Britain’s King Charles III is reportedly planning an official visit to India early next year. According to UK media, Queen Camilla will accompany the king on a royal tour of the Indian subcontinent, part of a government-led attraction campaign aimed at promoting personal health following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
GB News quoted sources as saying that King Charles will visit India, Pakistan and Bangladesh during the trip.
The report quoted a senior palace official as saying, “We are now working on a very normal-looking full foreign tour program for next year, which is too good for us to finish, knowing that. So that we can think in those terms.” Saying.
The British government is reportedly keen on royal tours of Commonwealth countries, with Britain trying to establish important economic ties outside Europe in the post-Brexit world.
The king’s previously planned visit to the Indian subcontinent had to be abandoned following the queen’s death in September 2022. However, the King and Queen visited Bengaluru last month for a private visit, where they reportedly stayed at a huge integrated medical facility.
The British Foreign Office has authorized officials to begin discussions with India and other potential host countries for royal visits, and proposals are being drafted, UK newspaper The Mirror reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed excitement to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla, after their previous visit was cancelled, according to reports.
King Charles’ cancer diagnosis
The 76-year-old monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January and stepped down from royal duties for about three months. He returned to work in April after visiting a cancer center in London where he met fellow patients.
King Charles, who is still undergoing treatment, successfully completed a tour of Australia and Samoa in October. He reportedly felt invigorated by his 11-day trip to the South Pacific, after which Buckingham Palace made long-term plans for the monarch to resume a full international travel schedule next year, subject to medical advice.
A source told The Mirror: “It’s hugely exciting for the King and Queen to be able to plan something like this, given the King has had such a wonderful year, but has a very busy year ahead. One of the best-known royals in the Indian subcontinent. The King and Queen are ideal ambassadors at a time when the tour is about to be of huge political and cultural significance for Britain on the world stage.”
