According to UK media reports, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to embark on an official royal tour of India early next year. This will be the King’s first official visit to India since he ascended the throne. British officials consider the trip a positive move for the King, particularly after his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The news follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expression of enthusiasm to welcome the royal couple, after their previous visit was cancelled. The British Foreign Office has granted permission for officials to initiate talks with India and other potential host nations.
The royal tour will also include visits to Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of a subcontinent trip that was canceled after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
In October, King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a private visit to a wellness retreat in Bengaluru, where they spent four days. A royal source told Reuters that the visit was not related to the King’s health, but rather a chance for him to rest after returning from Samoa, where he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Commonwealth Summit on October 25-26 was King Charles III’s first major international trip since his cancer diagnosis.
Buckingham Palace revealed the King’s cancer diagnosis in February this year. His spokesperson later confirmed that, with his treatment going well, they are considering a “fairly typical full overseas tour program” for next year.
The couple’s most recent official visit to India was in 2019 when Charles held the title of Prince of Wales. The trip focused on climate change, sustainability, and social finance.
