King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s upcoming visit to Australia is significant for several reasons. It is Charles’ first visit since ascending to the throne – as well as the first time a British male head of state has visited Australia.

King Charles III will travel halfway around the world to Samoa this month to take his seat as the head of the Commonwealth and highlight the existential threat climate change poses for Pacific island nations.

King Charles, the only British monarch who has spent time living in Australia, arrives on Friday for his inaugural visit to an overseas realm as sovereign, his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer.