Senior Royals set for two years of tours in ‘soft democrazy’ blitz to shore up ties with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world
Senior Royals to tour for two years in ‘soft democrazy’ blitz to strengthen ties with Commonwealth and wider world
- The king and queen are hoping for “soft diplomacy” to strengthen relations
- Raise the chance of Prince and Princess of Wales traveling with their children
- King Charles has yet to visit 14 Commonwealth realms where he is head of state
A two-year blitz of formal visits by senior Royals is planned in an effort to protect ties with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.
The King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales hope a display of “soft diplomacy” will protect relations with countries like Australia that want to go it alone.
The tours raise the prospect of Kate and William taking George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five.
Charles has made just one state visit – to Germany in March – since he became king.
As a monarch, he has yet to visit any of the 14 Commonwealth realms outside the UK, where he is head of state.
A two-year blitz of formal visits by senior Royals is planned in an effort to protect ties with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world. Pictured: Baby George visiting Australia with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in 2014
State visit: Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit to Kenya in 1952
But last night a palace source said: “State visits are back.”
Palace insiders have suggested senior Royals are frustrated with the government’s allegedly slow process for approving visits, which are decided by the Foreign Office and the Royal Visits Committee.
Now there are plans for a rescheduled visit by the King and Queen to France in September – postponed due to March riots – and next year the King will visit Samoa when it hosts a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government.
As The Mail on Sunday has revealed, the King and Queen will also travel to Kenya later this year.
Kenya does not recognize the king as head of state, but is seen as an important part of the Commonwealth.
William and Kate are widely expected to visit the Commonwealth country of Singapore in the fall.
Kensington Palace has announced that William will be traveling to New York in September.
Historian Ian Lloyd said: ‘A visit by Charles to Canada and a visit by the Welsh to Australia and New Zealand would benefit from the worldwide interest in the coronation.
They need to do this before interest wanes – and bringing the children of Wales along would also prove to be a PR triumph.’
He added: “The problem is that they are asked by the government to do tours that want to use the royal soft power to promote the country.
“So the king’s desire to maintain ties with the Commonwealth must work with the government.
“This was easy in the early days of Elizabeth’s reign, when prime ministers like Churchill had a romantic view of the old Empire.”
Elizabeth was once Queen of 31 Commonwealth “estates.” Today there are 14 – and referenda are planned that could make more disappear.
Yesterday, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he had hoped to cut colonial ties once the Queen died, but bureaucratic red tape and “a long period of public education and consultation” lengthened the process.
Antigua and Barbuda could also escape. Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the visiting Earl of Wessex last year that Britain must pay reparations for its ‘atrocities’.
Last week, the Australian state of Victoria announced it would no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games as they represent ‘not good value for money’.
Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government at King’s College London, said the royal family could still have a close relationship with Commonwealth countries after they are no longer wealthy.
He said, “It wouldn’t mean cutting ties. The vast majority of member states are republics.’