<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330854</docID> <postdate>2024-10-13 13:41:57</postdate> <headline>King Charles taking doctors and blood on Australia tour</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330855" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20240920166046193661-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>King Charles is bringing doctors and his own blood on his tour of Australia. (AP PHOTO)</caption> <p><strong>King Charles is reportedly taking two doctors and a supply of his blood on his upcoming tour of Australia and Samoa.</strong></p> <p>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 nine-day royal trip starting on Friday.</p> <p>Charles will be "monitored closely during the visit", with a palace source adding Michael Dixon – head of the royal medical household and known for his interest in homeopathy – "will not be travelling" with His Majesty, according to a report in The Times.</p> <p>Charles' visit to Sydney and Canberra will be his first to a Commonwealth realm since becoming king and it's understood he is pausing his chemotherapy treatment until after the trip.</p> <p>The Times added steps taken to support Charles abroad are "the same as arrangements put in place for the late Queen".</p> <p>They will also apparently include travelling with a supply of the king's blood to ensure a match if a transfusion was needed, The Times said.</p> <p>As well as travelling with his own doctors, the king will be supported by medical teams during the entire trip.</p> <p>In Australia, Charles' itinerary will include a rest day and there will be no evening engagements.</p> <p>But Charles and his wife Queen Camilla, 77, will arrive in the evening in Samoa and are due to attend a state dinner.</p> <p>Buckingham Palace said in April Charles was "greatly encouraged" by news from his doctors he could resume public duties while his treatment continued.</p> <p>Despite the encouraging signs over Charles' health, a planned visit to NZ was dropped from the upcoming tour.</p> <p>Charles told the nation's female rugby squad at a reception for them in Buckingham Palace in September: "I'm extremely sorry I can't come to New Zealand in later October – it's on doctors' orders.</p> <p>"But I hope there will be another excuse (to come) before too long.</p> <p>"In the meantime, give my love to New Zealand."</p> <p>https://citynews.com.au/2024/public-to-rub-shoulders-with-the-royals/</p> </body>