King Charles set to meet cancer researchers in first major foreign tour since health battle

Buckingham Palace shared more information about the King and Queen's upcoming tour, announcing the royal couple will be travelling abroad from Friday, October 18 to Saturday, October 26.

The visit is significant as it will be the monarch's first tour to Commonwealth countries since he became King.

It also marks his first major international trip following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

"Their Majesties The King and Queen will undertake an Autumn Tour from Friday 18th – Saturday 26th October 2024.

"This will include a Royal Visit to Australia, State Visit to The Independent State of Samoa and attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024," the Palace said in a statement.

The sovereign is also set to meet with two pioneering medical experts in melanoma treatment.

"The King, who has this year been receiving treatment for cancer, will meet Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, both Australians of the Year, and will hear about the work they do to help those affected by melanoma, one of Australia’s most common cancers," the Palace outlined.

Long and Scolyer are both professors at the University of Sydney and co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia.

They won the award together for their work to save lives from skin cancer.

After Scolyer was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in June 2023, Long developed a series of groundbreaking treatments inspired by melanoma breakthroughs.

He later became the world's first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, "an experimental treatment hoping to advance the understanding of brain cancer," according to the Australian of the Year Awards.

King Charles is currently undergoing his own cancer treatment. The Palace announced in February that the sovereign was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following his treatment for a benign enlarged prostate in January.

A spokesman clarified he does not have prostate cancer.

After three months of postponing public-facing duties, the King, 75, resumed forward-facing work on April 30.

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Buckingham Palace described the King's treatment as ongoing and shared a positive sentiment from his doctors.

"His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.

"Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time.