Crowds gathered in Sydney and Canberra the previous week to see King Charles and Queen Camilla. It was evident that His Majesty's affection for Australia is still alive and well.
During the whirlwind visit, the royal couple packed a lot into three days before flying to Samoa. This accommodated King Charles' cancer treatment, which required a significant time commitment, BBC reported.
There was continued anxiety about King Charles' health even though the monarch was in a pleasant mood. Instead of going to The Everest at Royal Randwick Racecourse, he decided to sit on the couch at Admiralty House in Sydney and watch the King Charles III Stakes horse race.
It was also asserted that an ambulance had followed Charles' motorcade several times and that a physician was always by his side.
A source present at King Charles and Camilla's appearance on October 22 at Circular Quay told New Idea Magazine, "The King had a man following him with a big first-aid kit."
Due to these concerning indicators, some individuals have speculated that King Charles's current tour, which marked his seventeenth official visit to the country, would be his final one.
"Even without the cancer treatment, the trip is taxing on Charles and Camilla at their ages," one insider noted. "The King may not admit it, but this might have been his final farewell to a country he loves so much."
King Charles, who will turn 76 the following month, and Camilla, who is 77 years old, were resolved to make the most of every moment they spent with the people of Australia, keeping this fact in the back of their thoughts, as per AP News.
At the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, there was a particularly moving moment. Their Majesties deposited a floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and examined the poppies attached to the Roll of Honour.
King Charles also spent some time at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern, where he was hugged by an Aboriginal elder named Uncle James Michael "Widdy" Welsh, a member of the Stolen Generation.
“He put his hand out [to shake] ... I [told] him I'm more of a hugger. He said, 'Hugs are good!" Uncle James later shared.
There were times when King Charles and Camilla were able to laugh at themselves. They got back together at a community BBQ in Parramatta and worked the sausage sizzle with each other. It was impossible for Camilla to refrain from brandishing the tongs at her husband when they were turning the snags.
The visit came to an abrupt end with a Navy Fleet Review in the shadow of the Sydney Opera House.
After taking in the crowd, sparkling views, and fluttering Australian flags, King Charles and Camilla retired to Admiralty House for a well-deserved repose. Perhaps they were wondering if they would ever return to the country again.
