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Medics and a blood bag: The King’s health contingency plans for upcoming tour

Author
Bang Showbiz,
Publish Date
Sun, 13 Oct 2024, 4:17pm
King Charles has been battling an undisclosed form of cancer since February, removing a stop to New Zealand on his upcoming tour of Australia and Samoa as a result. Photo / Getty Images
King Charles has been battling an undisclosed form of cancer since February, removing a stop to New Zealand on his upcoming tour of Australia and Samoa as a result. Photo / Getty Images

Medics and a blood bag: The King’s health contingency plans for upcoming tour

Author
Bang Showbiz,
Publish Date
Sun, 13 Oct 2024, 4:17pm

The King will be visiting Australia and Samoa later this month in a royal tour that originally included stops in New Zealand.

King Charles is reportedly taking two doctors and a supply of his blood on his upcoming tour of Australia and Samoa.

The monarch, 77, who has been battling an undisclosed form of cancer since February, will apparently have the medics on standby 24 hours a day during his upcoming royal trip from October 18 to 26.

According to a report by The Times, Charles will be 鈥渕onitored closely during the visit鈥, with a palace source adding Michael Dixon 鈥 head of the royal medical household and known for his interest in homeopathy 鈥 鈥渨ill not be travelling鈥 with His Majesty.

Charles鈥 visit to Sydney and Canberra will be his first to a Commonwealth realm since becoming king in May, and it is understood he is pausing his chemotherapy treatment until after the trip.

The Times added steps taken to support Charles abroad are 鈥渢he same as arrangements put in place for the late Queen鈥.

King Charles has his photograph taken with New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby union team on the Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace on September 11 in London. Photo / Getty Images

King Charles has his photograph taken with New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby union team on the Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace on September 11 in London. Photo / Getty Images

They will also apparently include travelling with a supply of the King鈥檚 blood to ensure a match if a transfusion was needed, The Times added.

It said as well as travelling with his own doctors, the King will be supported by medical teams during the trip.

In Australia, Charles鈥 itinerary will include a rest day and there will be no evening engagements.

But Charles and his wife Queen Camilla, 77, will arrive in the evening in Samoa and are due to attend a state dinner.

Buckingham Palace said in April Charles was 鈥済reatly encouraged鈥 by news from his doctors he could resume public duties while his treatment continued.

Despite the encouraging signs over Charles鈥 health, a planned visit to New Zealand was dropped from the upcoming tour due to his health.

Charles told the nation鈥檚 female rugby squad at a reception for them in Buckingham Palace in September: 鈥淚鈥檓 extremely sorry I can鈥檛 come to New Zealand in later October 鈥 it鈥檚 on doctors鈥 orders.

鈥淏ut I hope there will be another excuse (to come) before too long.

鈥淚n the meantime, give my love to New Zealand.鈥

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