Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated1729256968

Royal news live: King Charles sends message to Australia as monarch arrives for first visit since cancer diagnosis

The visit is King Charles’s first tour of Australia as king

Athena Stavrou
Friday 18 October 2024 09:09
Comments
Related video: 700 drones light up Sydney sky during Vivid Sydney

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in “beautiful” Australia on the first day of their historic nine-day royal tour.

The visit, which is the couple’s first as king and queen, will celebrate Australia’s rich culture and heritage.

Their arrival in Sydney was celebrated with a spectacular light show that saw the Opera House poignantly lit up for four minutes with images from previous royal tours.

“Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special,” the royals said in a joint statement.

“See you there! – Charles R & Camilla R.”

The statement was accompanied by archive footage from previous royal tours of the country.

As well as being Charles’s first time in Australia as monarch, the tour is his first overseas visit since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

The king, 75, is said to be temporarily pausing his treatment for the occasion, but he is accompanied by two doctors as a precautionary measure.

1729141200

Prince William says he needs support to tackle homelessness

Prince William has called upon the British public to support his efforts to end homelessness.

Admitting that he likes a “challenge”, he has admitted that this is one area where change cannot be made without people coming together on a large scale.

The revelation was shared in a new clip ahead of the release of the royal’s new ITV documentary about the subject, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness.

“I like a big challenge, I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own,” he said.

The programme follows the prince during the first year of his anti-homelessness initiative, Homewards.

Prince William has asserted his belief that homelessness in modern Britain can be ended.
Prince William has asserted his belief that homelessness in modern Britain can be ended. (Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire)
Emma Guinness17 October 2024 06:00
1729130400

Watch back our event: What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?

Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like?

Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler.

Watch the full event here. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.

What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?

Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like? These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family. Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.

Emma Guinness17 October 2024 03:00
1729119600

Expert reveals touching possibility for Kate’s Christmas card

A royal expert has speculated about the contents of the Princess of Wales’s Christmas card for 2024.

Biographer Ingrid Seward said that the card will almost certainly feature Kate, 42, with her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, six.

She told the Mirror: “[It will] definitely be with family as right across the board that is what has been traditionally sent.

“I imagine that it will be cuddly picture of her with her arms around her children.”

Emma Guinness17 October 2024 00:00
1729108835

King Charles celebrates cultural relations between the UK and Italy

King Charles has attended a concert celebrating the cultural relationship between the UK and Italy.

The monarch, who is patron of the London Symphony Orchestra, took in the hour-long performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’ overture, Paganini’s First movement from Violin Concerto No 1, and Puccini’s ‘Crisantemi’ for String Orchestra.

The engagement comes just days before the monarch is due to travel overseas for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa.

Emma Guinness16 October 2024 21:00
1729107894

Pictured: William speaks at Centrepoint awards

(Hollie Adams/PA Wire)
Jabed Ahmed16 October 2024 20:44
1729107549

Prince of Wales calls for ‘systemic change’ to end homelessness

The Prince of Wales has called for a movement that creates “systemic change” to end homelessness in the UK.

William made the comments on Wednesday evening as Centrepoint, the homeless charity he supports as a patron.

Speaking at the Kensington Palace event, which was hosted by broadcaster Claudia Winkleman, William said: “I am inspired by the ambition and commitment of all the award winners and nominees this evening. You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.

“What inspires me the most about the young people here this evening, is that they have not only overcome homelessness to achieve their personal ambitions, but they are also all contributing to the communities in which they live… be that through teaching, fundraising or volunteering.

“While homelessness is of course a complex societal issue, I passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended.”

William said he believed this required “a movement that creates systemic change” which “focuses on prevent rather than management” and “ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and thrive independently”.

Jabed Ahmed16 October 2024 20:39
1729105157

Prince William arrives at British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards

William has arrived at the British Museum ahead of the Centrepoint Awards.

The Prince of Wales met with the young finalists and was laughing and joking with them as he made his way around the groups.

An orchestra played Adele’s Skyfall in the background.

(Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Jabed Ahmed16 October 2024 19:59
1729098035

Prince William’s says his agenda is to ‘desperately try to help’ homeless people

Prince William says his only agenda is to “desperately try to help” tackle homelessness.

The heir to the throne, 42, made the revelation in his upcoming ITV documentary, which follows the first year of his anti-homelessness project, Homewards.

The interviewer asked: “There will be some people who might question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?”

William replied: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all.

“I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.

“And I see that as part of my role, is that, why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?”

Prince William: We Can End Homelessness will air on 30 October at 9 pm ITV and ITVX and STV and STV Player.

The Prince of Wales has spoken out about his mission to end homelessness (Maja Smiejkowska/PA)
The Prince of Wales has spoken out about his mission to end homelessness (Maja Smiejkowska/PA) (PA Wire)
Emma Guinness16 October 2024 18:00
1729094436

Duchess of York celebrates ‘recovery and growth'

The Duchess of York took a moment to celebrate her “recovery and growth” as she marked her 65th birthday yesterday.

Sarah, who joined the royal family upon her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday wishes!

“I’m feeling incredibly grateful to be here every day, to smell the flowers, to read and write, and to be able to see my daughters and my grandchildren.

“It has been an extraordinary, full year - a year of recovery and of growth - and I just feel so lucky.

“Thank you again to all of you who made it so and who took the time to send me birthday wishes.”

Emma Guinness16 October 2024 17:00
1729092600

King Charles’s Australia visit to be met with UK anti-monarchy protests

King Charles is set to be met with anti-monarchy protests when he arrives in Australia with Queen Camilla on Friday.

Alongside protests from people within Australia, Graham Smith, the chief executive officer of the UK-based anti-monarchy group Republic, said he was travelling down under “to challenge the royal PR machine”.

Mr Smith said: “I’m in Australia to talk about why the UK should ditch the monarchy and to challenge the royal PR machine.

“I’m not here to tell Australia to become a republic, but to talk to Australians and the British press about the growing republican movement in the UK and the huge failings of the British monarchy.

“The message is simple: Charles does not speak for us, he does not represent us, he should go home.”

The overseas trip is being used by anti-monarchy protesters as an opportunity to make their opinions known.
The overseas trip is being used by anti-monarchy protesters as an opportunity to make their opinions known. (PA)
Emma Guinness16 October 2024 16:30

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in