Royal news live: King Charles sends message to Australia as monarch arrives for first visit since cancer diagnosis
The visit will be King Charles’s first tour of Australia as king
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King Charles and Queen Camilla have expressed their excitement at returning to “beautiful” Australia ahead of the first day of their royal tour.
The couple, who will tour Australia and Samoa for eight days, will make their first appearance in Sydney where the Opera House will be lit up for four minutes with images from previous royal visits to mark their arrival.
“Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special,” the royals said in a joint statement.
“See you there! – Charles R & Camilla R.”
The statement was accompanied by archive footage from previous royal tours of the country.
As well as being Charles’s first visit to Australia as reigning monarch, the visit will also be his first overseas trip since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
The monarch, 75, is said to be temporarily pausing his treatment for the trip, but he will be accompanied by two doctors as a precautionary measure.
Prince of Wales calls for ‘systemic change’ to end homelessness
The Prince of Wales has called for a movement that creates “systemic change” to end homelessness in the UK.
William made the comments on Wednesday evening as Centrepoint, the homeless charity he supports as a patron.
Speaking at the Kensington Palace event, which was hosted by broadcaster Claudia Winkleman, William said: “I am inspired by the ambition and commitment of all the award winners and nominees this evening. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.
“What inspires me the most about the young people here this evening, is that they have not only overcome homelessness to achieve their personal ambitions, but they are also all contributing to the communities in which they live… be that through teaching, fundraising or volunteering.
“While homelessness is of course a complex societal issue, I passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended.”
William said he believed this required “a movement that creates systemic change” which “focuses on prevent rather than management” and “ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently”.
Prince William arrives at British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards
William has arrived at the British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards.
The Prince of Wales met with the young finalists and was laughing and joking with them as he made his way around the groups.
An orchestra played Adele’s Skyfall in the background.
Prince William’s says his agenda is to ‘desperately try to help’ homeless people
Prince William says his only agenda is to “desperately try to help” tackle homelessness.
The heir to the throne, 42, made the revelation in his upcoming ITV documentary, which follows the first year of his anti-homelessness project, Homewards.
The interviewer asked: “There will be some people who might question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?”
William replied: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all.
“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.
“And I see that as part of my role, is that, why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?”
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness will air on 30 October at 9 pm ITV and ITVX and STV and STV Player.
Duchess of York celebrates ‘recovery and growth'
The Duchess of York took a moment to celebrate her “recovery and growth” as she marked her 65th birthday yesterday.
Sarah, who joined the royal family upon her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday wishes!
“I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be here every day, to smell the flowers, to read and write, and to be able to see my daughters and my grandchildren.
“It has been an extraordinary, full year - a year of recovery and of growth - and I just feel so lucky.
“Thank you again to all of you who made it so and who took the time to send me birthday wishes.”
King Charles’s Australia visit to be met with UK anti-monarchy protests
King Charles is set to be met with anti-monarchy protests when he arrives in Australia with Queen Camilla on Friday.
Alongside protests from people within Australia, Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, said he was travelling down under “to challenge the royal PR machine”.
Mr Smith said: “I’m in Australia to talk about why the UK should ditch the monarchy and to challenge the royal PR machine.
“I’m not here to tell Australia to become a republic, but to talk to Australians and the British press about the growing republican movement in the UK and the huge failings of the British monarchy.
“The message is simple: Charles does not speak for us, he does not represent us, he should go home.”
Royal fans can now dine at King Charles’s table
Visitors to Dumfries House in Scotland can now dine in the very same spot as King Charles, where they will be able to experience an 18th-century feast in his favourite room.
Charles takes most of his evening meals in the Pink Dining Room while staying at the Scottish stately home in Ayrshire.
Now his charity, The King’s Foundation, is offering a new private dining experience, allowing members of the public the opportunity to enjoy a three-course meal, authentic to the 1700s and served by a traditional butler, in the royal chamber.
Guests will eat at the King’s table – but not in the presence of the monarch – beneath the 35kg Murano glass floral chandelier, which was painstakingly reassembled after being found in the basement in more than 100 pieces nearly 20 years ago.
Menus will be based on 18th-century dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert.
King Charles delighted by knitted cake stand
King Charles was visibly delighted when he was gifted a knitted cake stand to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his charity’s textiles programme.
Charles, 75, accepted the gift in Ayrshire, Scotland where the King’s Foundation set up Future Textiles in 2014.
The programme, which exists in several forms, has now expanded across the UK and was established to address the skills gap in the UK’s textile industry.
Jacqueline Farrell, education director at The King’s Foundation, said: “Initially, Future Textiles benefitted secondary school-age pupils by introducing them to the beauty of making and ensuring they understood the technical sewing and craft processes that are so vital to responsible fashion design and manufacturing.
“Due to the incredible support of the industry and our partners, the programme grew rapidly and now offers a huge range of courses ranging from day workshops and weekly community groups, to full-time courses which provide students with the skills needed to start their own businesses and gain employment in the industry.”
King Charles marks 120 years of London Symphony Orchestra
King Charles has marked the 120th anniversary of the London Symphony Orchestra by attending a special performance at the Guildhall in London.
The monarch, 75, who is patron of the organisation, enjoyed an hour of classical music on Tuesday (15 October), which simultaneously celebrated the UK’s relationship with the Italian city of Genoa.
Following the performance, the King met with officials and the 57th winner of the prestigious Premio Paganini international violin competition, Simon Zhu, 23.
Historic ultra-marathon winner to be honoured at Windsor Castle
Historic ultra-marathon winner Jasmin Paris is set to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Windsor Castle.
Ms Paris, 40, from Midlothian, Scotland, will be honoured by the Prince of Wales after completing some of the world’s toughest races.
This includes the gruelling 100-mile Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, which she became the first woman to complete in March of this year, crossing the finish line with 99 seconds to spare from its 60-hour cut-off.
Prince William wishes new England coach good luck
Prince William has sent his best wishes to the newly announced England head coach, Thomas Tuchel.
Taking to the official Kensington Palace Twitter/X account, the heir to the throne, 42, wrote: “Exciting times for @England, with a generation of talented players and a new manager taking the reins.
“Thomas, wishing you the best of luck, we’re all behind you! W.”
Exciting times for @England, with a generation of talented players and a new manager taking the reins.
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 16, 2024
Thomas, wishing you the best of luck, we’re all behind you! W https://t.co/OpLRaYitoL
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