As we transition into a new year, the Royal Family is transitioning into a new diary of engagements and royal tours.
While some members of the family have their plans announced, there will be a number of engagements and tours kept under wraps until the last minute because of security concerns. We do know King Charles and Queen Camilla will be traveling to Canada in May. It follows criticism from some for taking several months to travel around the Commonwealth following The King’s ascension to the throne. Last October, they made their way to Kenya for a visit.
The King and Queen are also scheduled to attend the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October. There are rumours the trip will be combined with a visit to Australia and New Zealand as they have not visited since becoming King and Queen. While Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm, a source from inside the Australian government says the visit would be in October.
As far as other members of the Royal Family, they might be headed to Brunei for the wedding of Prince Mateen of Brunei and his wife-to-be, Anisha Isa Kalebic. A large international turnout is expected with members of the royal families of Europe and Asia likely to attend. Some sources believe if the British Royal Family is to attend, it will be the Prince and Princess of Wales. The two attended the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif in Jordan last year.
The Princess Royal will make an official visit alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence to Sri Lanka in January 2024. The three-day visit, at the request of the Foreign Office, will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the South Asian island. During the visit, the Princess will meet with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and meet with local communities and faith groups in the capital, Colombo. The last time The Princess visited was nearly 30 years ago in 1995 as patron of Save the Children. An organization working to address issues faced by children.
There are also, as yet unconfirmed, reports that the Prince and Princess of Wales will make a visit to Italy later in 2024.
