King Charles Is Reportedly \201cIn Denial\201d About How Much He Can Handle As He’s Set to Juggle a Major Foreign Tour Alongside Continued Cancer Treatment This Fall
The Palace still hasn’t confirmed that two countries are reportedly being dropped from the royal tour of Oceania this fall, as \201cCharles is optimistic and desperately wants to keep going with everything.\201d


King Charles has always been a workhorse, and, even as he continues to receive treatment for cancer, seems to bite off more than he can chew. (It’s something his loving wife, Queen Camilla, has jokingly in public—and probably sometimes not-so-jokingly in private—chastised him for.)
Charles announced his cancer diagnosis on February 5, the same day he began cancer treatment. He continued to work from home and appear in public occasionally until April 30, when he officially returned to public life; he is scheduled to undergo his first royal tour post-diagnosis in October, when he and Camilla are scheduled to visit Oceania. Their original plan was to stop in four countries—Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, and Fiji—but, reports say, the New Zealand and Fiji legs of the tour are reportedly on the chopping block because of Charles’ need to pace himself as he continues recovery.
The Queen has reportedly begged her husband to "slow down" as he works tirelessly, even as he receives continued treatment for cancer.
But, The Daily Beast reports, the King is in “denial” over the planning of this tour, likely wanting to go through with all of it, even though it’s not advisable. Buckingham Palace hasn’t yet confirmed the cancellation of the two legs of the Oceania tour, “although even the Prime Minister of New Zealand came close to conceding the truth of the worst kept secret in diplomacy when he said this weekend that Charles had an ‘open invitation’ to visit the country,” The Daily Beast’s Tom Sykes writes. Another lawmaker said, per Sykes, “If the royal visit is canceled, New Zealanders will be typically reasonable about it.”
In more hints that the tour is being scaled back, Charles’ private secretary Clive Alderton has been in Australia in recent days, Sykes reports, “preparing the ground for his master’s forthcoming visit to that country, expected to take place in mid-October this year. The absence of an Alderton sighting in New Zealand, however, has served as yet more evidence that Charles has now all but canceled his tour of that country, which was to be bolted on to the Australia trip. A proposed trip to Fiji has also, reportedly, been shelved.”
The couple's planned tour of Oceania included four countries, but, as the King's health takes priority, New Zealand and Fiji have reportedly been dropped from the itinerary.
The Mirror broke news of the cancellation, saying it would be “a bitter disappointment on both sides,” but for now, “the Palace is sticking to the line that planning for the trip continues,” Sykes writes, adding that “the Palace’s unwillingness to rush out an announcement is entirely understandable, given that they still hope Charles will be able to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) conference in Samoa, despite his ongoing cancer fight.”
As to why the Palace won’t confirm that the tour has been shortened, “They are in denial by continuing to say that planning for the overseas trip is full steam ahead—but the orders come from the top,” a source speaking to The Daily Beast said. “Charles is optimistic and desperately wants to keep going with everything. Missing New Zealand is a great loss, and it will be a source of great regret for him, because, to be honest, he probably won’t be doing it again. But it’s frankly incredible that he is still doing Australia, and that should be celebrated.”
Because of Australia's important relationship with the Commonwealth, the King absolutely refuses to miss a chance to visit there.
Though Australia seems to be a go for October, even that leg is being reduced, as The Mirror reports that it is being reduced to six days—including a two-day break. “Australia is such an important part of the Commonwealth that Charles feels it is absolutely non-negotiable,” they said. “There is considerable popular antipathy to the entire concept of the British monarch being head of state there, and, of course, he doesn’t want to go down as the man who lost Australia. To go there when he is being treated for cancer wasn’t what he planned—but you could hardly think of a better way of letting Australians know how important they are to the Crown.”
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Sykes writes that the King’s “entirely unsurprising decision to cancel the New Zealand leg of the tour has raised questions about running a packed schedule while being treated for cancer.” Camilla has reportedly repeatedly urged her husband to “slow down,” with one of her friends previously telling The Daily Beast of the couple “Of course, he wants to keep cracking on, but she is afraid that doing too much could set him back.”
Camilla, as any loving wife would, is keen to put her husband's health first as he battles cancer.
A friend of the King told the publication that “Charles is keenly aware of the importance of a visit by the monarch—not just to a foreign country, but to domestic charities and organizations,” they said. “That is why he has been determined to do as much as he can, meet as many people as he can, and support as many causes as he can. Sitting in splendid isolation in Balmoral with his feet up would not be good for his morale. But at the same time, if the doctors—and his wife—say no to something, he has to listen to them. I think that is what we are seeing now.”

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
I Injected My Body's "Liquid Gold" to Address Undereye Fine Lines and Dark Circles
But would I do it again?
By Michelle Rostamian
-
Queen Elizabeth Gave the Perfect Response When Pope Francis Presented Her With Priceless Gifts for Prince George
The late pope spared no expense when it came to treating the infant prince in 2014.
By Kristin Contino
-
Want Healthier-Looking Hair? This Unexpected Beauty Product Might Be the Answer
Skip the shampoos, glosses, and treatments.
By Marie Claire Editors
-
How Princess Kate and Prince William are Following in The King and Queen's Footsteps With Surprise Anniversary Celebration
The Prince and Princess of Wales will mark their 14th anniversary on April 29.
By Kristin Contino
-
The "Nerve-Racking" Meeting King Charles's Cousin Had With Princess Diana
"I could have been a complete idiot."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Prince Louis is "Not at All in Awe" of the Fact Grandpa Charles is The King
Titles don't impress Louis much, per one royal expert.
By Kristin Contino
-
An Unexpected Senior Royal Is Set to Attend Pope Francis's Funeral at the Vatican
King Charles—who paid tribute to the pontiff on social media—is unlikely to attend.
By Amy Mackelden
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla Are "Greatly Moved" Over Pope Francis Granting Them a Private Audience Before His Death
The King and Queen shared they had "heavy hearts" over the pope's death.
By Kristin Contino
-
Why Prince Andrew Attended the Royal Family's Easter Service After Skipping Christmas at Sandringham
It was previously alleged King Charles's "patience was wearing thin" with his brother.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Why a "No-Fly Zone" Has Been Placed Over King Charles's Sandringham Home After "Mystery Drones" Were Spotted
"It prompted a security scare."
By Amy Mackelden
-
King Charles Meets a Small Fan Named Lilibet As He Issues Tongue-in-Cheek Health Update
The King attended the Royal Maundy service for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.
By Kristin Contino