The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to Australia

TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall paid a Jubilee visit to Australia last week. He had visited many times before and is very fond of the country. For the Duchess it was her very first visit.

They had a full programme travelling all over Australia, taking in the outback in Queensland, as well as Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney and Canberra.

In Queensland he visited the Flying Doctors, of which he is the Patron. He also participated in events which highlighted South Australian food and wine, and Australian wool, and supported Australian cricket stars working with disadvantaged youth.

He also had an opportunity to engage with many Australians at events hosted by the Governor General and state Governors.

Since TRH visit Australia as the family of Australia’s Sovereign, the British High Commission has no formal involvement in their programme. But we did get a chance to chat to Their Royal Highnesses at the Melbourne Cup – the famous “race that stops the nation”.  

They seemed to be very much enjoying their time in Australia. Certainly the public and media reaction has been very positive.

Before leaving Australia, the Prince of Wales laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in Canberra on 10 November. I have also been busy with Remembrance Services this weekend. I took part in the national ceremony in Canberra on Sunday, laying the UK wreath alongside those of the Governor General and Prime Minister.

I also participated in a separate service at the French Embassy and was invited to address an event at the Polish Embassy which marked the 70^thanniversary of the evacuation of exiled Polish citizens from wartime captivity in the USSR.

Many of them went on to fight with great distinction with British and allied forces in WWII, and afterwards many settled in Britain and Australia.