King Charles is set for a major tour of South Asia, where he will visit India, Pakistan and Bangladesh amid his recovery from cancer.
It comes after Buckingham Palace put in long-term plans for the King to resume a complete international travel programme next year, subject to medical advice, after he completed his successful tour of Australia and Samoa in October.
The King abandoned his plans to visit the region in 2022 following the Queen’s death in September of that year.
No10 is understood to be keen on a royal tour of the Commonwealth nations to establish significant economic links outside of Europe.
King Charles is set for a major tour of South Asia, where he will visit India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
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A source told the Mirror: “It’s hugely encouraging to be able to make such plans for the King and Queen given the year the monarch has had, but it’s very much full steam ahead.
“A tour of the Indian subcontinent is in the offing, which will be of huge political and cultural significance for Britain on the world stage.
“The King and Queen are the perfect ambassadors at such a time.”
Foreign Office officials have also opened discussions with the host nations after proposals for the tour were given the green light.
The King abandoned his plans to visit the region in 2022 following the Queen’s death in September of that year
PA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have expressed his desire to host the King and Queen, after they had to cancel their previous trip.
The 76-year-old monarch, who is still undergoing treatment, is said to have felt lifted by his shortened 11-day trip to the South Pacific, where he carried out up to ten engagements a day.
The tour saw His Majesty’s first overseas trip to a realm where he reigns as Head of State, and to a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as the institution’s head.
A senior palace official told GB News: “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms.”
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King Charles is said to have felt lifted by his shortened 11-day trip to the South Pacific
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As Prince of Wales, Charles visited Pakistan with Camilla in 2006 for a week.
He told supporters: “It has taken me very nearly 58 years to reach you and it’s not from want of trying, I can tell you.”
King Charles, who stepped back from royal duties for around three months after announcing he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January, returned to work in April with a visit to a cancer centre in London where he met with fellow patients.
GB News has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.