King Charles's "treatment must come first as he continues to recover from cancer, a royal commentator has said, with the Monarch expected to scale back overseas travel plans.
The King and Queen are expected to travel to Australia just before or after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, which is being held in late October 2024.
On his way, the King was expected to visit New Zealand but may no longer be able to due to his health.
A source told The Mirror: "Naturally, it will be a bitter disappointment on both sides to not have the opportunity for the King and Queen to visit New Zealand, but of course, all are aware of the King’s ongoing health and the need for him to pace himself."
Speaking to GB News royal commentator Rafe Heydel-Mankoo said the change in plans is "no surprise" as the King's treatment must take priority.
He said: "Of course, the King has had a very busy schedule of late. He was at Trooping the Colour, he was at the Garter Day service. He's been at Royal Ascot twice and he's been at Cartier Polo.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"Of course next week we have the state visit of their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. So he's certainly going to be doing his best to be out there.
"His treatment has to come first and he has to obey the advice of his doctors. So it's not necessarily surprising that His Majesty is going to have to shorten and cut back what was supposed to be a two-week trip to Australia and New Zealand."
He added: "The trip to Australia, if these reports are correct, was going to be reduced to only six days. New Zealand to be completely omitted, which will be a great disappointment not only to His Majesty but also to New Zealanders."
The visit has not been formally confirmed by Buckingham Palace, according to a source within Australia’s Labor government.
It would be the royal couple’s first visit to Australia since 2018.
During that tour, Charles and Camilla opened the Commonwealth Games on the Queensland Gold Coast.
According to royal commentators, a royal tour could indicate how much Republican sentiment has grown in Australia.
The most recent opinion poll, held just after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, suggested 46 per cent of Australians favoured a republic.
Meanwhile, 54 per cent preferred the current system of Government. So far during King Charles III's reign, he has visited Germany, France, and Kenya on official royal tours.
Australia would mark the King and Queen's fourth overseas visit of their reign.
The King has slowly begun to return to his royal duties since his cancer diagnosis.
Recently the Queen said that King Charles, 75, is "doing fine except he won't slow down and won't do what he's told."