King Charles praised for 'gutsy' move as monarch ramps up plans for Australia visit

Former BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole has praised King Charles for his latest "gutsy" move, as the monarch has reportedly "ramped up plans" for his latest state visit.

According to royal sources, the King is accelerating plans for a state visit to Australia, as he continues his cancer treatment.

King Charles is thought to be considering a "two-week state visit to Australia" after seeing a "positive start" to his treatment.

A source told The Sun: "The King is raring to go after a significant amount of time off due to his cancer diagnosis.

King Charles and Michael Cole

"He's over the moon with the way treatment has gone and supercharging plans for Australia, New Zealand and Samoa."

Reacting to the reports, Cole told GB News he "salutes" the King for his enthusiasm to plan the visit, set to take place later this year.

The royal commetnator told host Martin Daubney that the "vast majority of Australians" will say "good on you King!" and "fair dinkum", which he revealed is a "uniquely Australian expression meaning unquestionably good".

Cole praised the British monarch and said despite his ongoing cancer treatment, the decision is "very gutsy" and hailed his "tenacity and devotion to duty".

King Charles

Discussing the King's latest public appearance at Easter, Cole said the King "really enjoyed" his time at the service and greeting royal fans outside.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Cole revealed: "When we saw him on Easter Sunday, he was full of bonhomie. I've watched him many times over many years, but I never, ever remember him going along a line and shaking every single hand.

"I think he was very pleased to be back in the swing of it. He was smiling like I've rarely seen him smile before. It's not every 75-year-old who wants to spend nearly 24 hours in a pressurised cigar tube flying to Australia."

Cole noted that the Queen "does not like long haul flights", and given the King's cancer treatment, the flights will also be "particularly difficult for him" to endure.

He added: "I admire his guts. He obviously feels the treatment is going well. And it's not just Australia, it's New Zealand as well. And then he will go on to Samoa in the South Pacific for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, which happens every two years."

Michael Cole

On reflection of the late Queen Elizabeth II's love for the Commonwealth, Cole told Martin that visiting the Commonwealth nations "was very important for the late Queen", and it is clear to see it is "also now important to Charles".

Cole said: "The late Queen lobbied very hard for him to be made head of the Commonwealth. And that did come to pass. The Commonwealth was very important to the Queen. It wasn't just a nice place to go in the winter time where it was sunny. She really believed in the values of the Commonwealth and indeed so do I.

"And I know the King is a big supporter, so he will be going to Samoa and taking his place rightly at the head of the Commonwealth. So big times ahead."