Plans for King Charles III’s inaugural tour of Canada as head of state have been postponed after his recent cancer diagnosis, according to sources familiar with the matter. While Buckingham Palace had not officially confirmed the visit, Canadian government sources had indicated that King Charles III and Queen Camilla were planning to visit in May 2024, a tour that had also been reported on by British media outlets.
The postponement comes after medical staff discovered a form of cancer during a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement earlier this month. The 75-year-old King has commenced a regimen of regular treatments, as announced by Buckingham Palace, which did not specify the type of cancer or the specific treatment being administered. Despite the diagnosis, the Palace stated that the King remains optimistic about his treatment and looks forward to resuming full public duties as soon as possible.
In response to inquiries regarding the royal visit, a Canadian official stated that no further tours are planned in Canada for 2024, nor are there any scheduled with other members of the Royal Family. Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that planning for the visit has been put on hold.
Although there were no public announcements of the tour, royal commentator Victoria Murphy noted that discussions behind the scenes have been affected by the King’s diagnosis. Since his coronation in May, King Charles III has made limited overseas visits, including trips to Germany, Romania, France, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates for the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
His last visit to Canada was in May 2022, during which he traveled to Newfoundland, Ottawa, and the Northwest Territories. During that visit, then-Assembly of First Nations national chief RoseAnne Archibald urged the Queen to apologize for the Crown’s historical treatment of Indigenous peoples.
The news of the King’s cancer diagnosis comes at a time when public sentiment regarding the monarchy in Canada is mixed. A pre-coronation poll revealed that a majority of Canadians believe the country should reconsider its ties to the monarchy, while a significant portion expressed indifference or lack of personal attachment to the institution.
Any potential changes to Canada’s relationship with the monarchy would require unanimous agreement from the provinces, the House of Commons, and the Senate. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated that there is currently no appetite for such a debate.