King Charles and Queen Camilla's Upcoming Tour Won't Use This Royal Word — Inside Why

Mar. 15, 2025

King Charles III, wearing his Irish Guards uniform, and Queen Camilla watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Trooping the Colour, also known as The King’s Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony to mark the official birthday of the British Sovereign. The ceremony takes place at Horse Guards Parade followed by a flypast over Buckingham Palace and was first performed in the mid-17th century during the reign of King Charles II. The parade features all seven regiments of the Household Division with Number 9 Company, Irish Guards being the regiment this year having their Colour Trooped.

King CharlesandQueen Camillawon’t call meeting well-wishers “walkabouts” when they tour Australia and Samoa in a show of sensitivity towards indigenous groups there.

“While the term has become a shorthand for a member of the royal family meeting and greeting well-wishers, it is used in Aboriginal culture to mean when a person travels on foot into the bush in times of ritual, meditation, change, grief or coming of age,“The Telegraphreported. According to the outlet, the switch is a gesture of respect towards Australia’s indigenous communities.

Instead, the palace will reportedly trade the phrase for an “opportunity to meet the public.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla greeting people after church on Easter on March 31, 2024.Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle

Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty Images

On Easter earlier this year, King Charles took partin a surprise walkaboutwhen he went to say hello to well-wishers outside St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The move was unexpected because the monarch sat apart from the rest of the royal family and other attendees during the church service as a precautionary measure amid his ongoing cancer treatment.

Queen Camilla and King Charles greet people after church on Easter on March 31, 2024.Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on March 31, 2024 in Windsor, England.

Hollie Adams - WPA Pool/Getty

At the time, the King was advised tolimit the number of peoplehe came in contact with amid his treatment after the palace announced in February he had cancer and would be postponing public-facing duties. The sovereign continued to work behind the scenes, resumedpublic royal workin late April and had a busy summer, making major engagements likea trip to Francefor the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, appearing atTrooping the Colourand more.

When his return to public-facing work was announced in late April, the palace described the King’s treatment as ongoing and shared a positive sentiment from his doctors.

“His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time.

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings on June 6, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event

Chris Jackson/Getty

The palace didn’t disclose when the King’s treatment might be completed.

“In close consultation with the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers, and with due regard for the pressures of time and logistics, it has therefore been agreed to limit the visit to Samoa and Australia only,” the spokesperson said.

King Charles III (wearing a Royal Marines tie) and Queen Camilla attend The Braemar Gathering 2024 at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 7, 2024 in Braemar, Scotland. The Braemar Gathering, renowned globally, is the most famous of the Highland Games. Every year, on the first Saturday in September, this vibrant Scottish tradition draws thousands of visitors to the small village of Braemar. With a history spanning nearly two centuries in its modern form, the Gathering stands as one of Scotland’s most celebrated events.

Buckingham Palace added that the couple “send their warmest thanks and good wishes to all parties for their continued support and understanding.”

While it was prefaced that the tour of Australia would be relatively limited compared to previous visits, the palace unveiled a busy rundown on Sept. 10 of what’s to come. It was confirmed that the King and Queen would attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,verifying months of speculationaround whether he would attend the summit in Samoa that starts on Oct. 21. The meeting is held biennially, and Charles is head of the Commonwealth, comprised of 56 nations.

King charles new zealand black ferns rugby union buckingham palace 09 11 24

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

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“The King’s visit to Australia will be His Majesty’s first to a Realm as Monarch, whilst the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa is the first The King will attend as Head of the Commonwealth,” the palace said in the latest announcement. “In both countries, Their Majesties’ engagements will focus on themes designed to celebrate the best of Australia and Samoa, as well as reflecting aspects of The King and Queen’s work.”

The itinerary includes a kickoff with the Australian prime minister, visit to the Australian War Memorial and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial and, for the King, a meeting with two medical experts pioneering treatment for melanoma, one of Australia’s most common cancers.

Other outings on the autumn tour will be a barbecue in Western Sydney, engagements for the Queen around her work on literacy and ending domestic violence, meetings for the King with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and groups to learn more about their efforts strengthening community and culture and an ‘Ava Fa’atupu ceremony welcome in Samoa before CHOGM begins.

source: people.com

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