In October 2024, King Charles and Queen Camilla embarked upon a short royal tour of Australia and Samoa. According to reports, the royal couple spent significantly less money on the international trip when compared with the late Queen Elizabeth II's Australia visits.
As for how Charles and Camilla managed to save so much money, their decision to fly commercial for most of the trip definitely helped, via People. As reported by the outlet (and The Telegraph), King Charles and Queen Camilla's royal tour of Australia and Samoa cost a total of $372,797, or approximately $62,000 per day. This figure included everything necessary for the royal tour, from travel costs and accommodation, to the couple's meals, events they attended, and general hospitality.
Conversely, both of Queen Elizabeth's most recent trips to Australia cost considerably more than her son's visit. As reported by The Telegraph and People, the late Queen's 2006 visit, which lasted a total of five days, cost a whopping $899,701. When the former monarch returned to Australia in 2011, for an 11-day visit incorporating stops in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth, the trip cost a jaw-dropping $1.6 million.
King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Apia, Samoa in 2024.
Despite costing a lot less money, Charles and Camilla's royal tour was definitely eventful. The Australian public went wild during The King and Queen's visit, in spite of republican sentiments putting a stop to some meetings with the royals.
During a visit to the Australian Parliament in Canberra on October 21, 2024, Aboriginal Australian senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted King Charles and shared her dismay at his presence. "You are not our king," she told him, via The New York Times. "Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us."
Thorpe referenced past abuses and colonial genocide, and then requested that the United Kingdom enter into a treaty with Australia’s Indigenous population. "Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people," Thorpe shouted at Charles. "You destroyed our land."
As Australia is a constitutional monarchy, Charles is technically King, but has very limited powers within the country.
-
These Affordable Sneakers Have Won Over Nearly Every Stylish A-ListerGet the A-list look for less.
-
Daisy Edgar Jones Just Carried Bella Hadid's Favorite Under-$200 BagI need one in every color.
-
Fairy Tale Movies So Sweet and Fantastical You'll Forget About Reality for A Little WhilePrincesses, mermaids, and true love's kiss, oh my!
-
Queen Elizabeth Gave the Perfect Response When Pope Francis Presented Her With Priceless Gifts for Prince GeorgeThe late pope spared no expense when it came to treating the infant prince in 2014.
-
Queen Elizabeth's Two-Ingredient Lunch Supposedly Helped Her Stay Healthy and Look YoungerThe late monarch was "not a foodie," but kept her meals simple and fresh.
-
How Princess Kate and Prince William are Following in The King and Queen's Footsteps With Surprise Anniversary CelebrationThe Prince and Princess of Wales will mark their 14th anniversary on April 29.
-
The Witty Way Queen Elizabeth Responded When a Royal Family Member Said Corgis "Should Be Shot"Criticizing the monarch's beloved pups was a big mistake.
-
The "Nerve-Racking" Meeting King Charles's Cousin Had With Princess Diana"I could have been a complete idiot."
-
Prince Louis is "Not at All in Awe" of the Fact Grandpa Charles is The KingTitles don't impress Louis much, per one royal expert.
-
An Unexpected Senior Royal Is Set to Attend Pope Francis's Funeral at the VaticanKing Charles—who paid tribute to the pontiff on social media—is unlikely to attend.
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla Are "Greatly Moved" Over Pope Francis Granting Them a Private Audience Before His DeathThe King and Queen shared they had "heavy hearts" over the pope's death.
