Australian Prime Minister Albanese Meets King Charles at Balmoral
BALMORAL, SCOTLAND – Australian Prime Minister Anthony albanese met with King Charles III at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday, presenting His Majesty with a framed photograph commemorating a previous royal visit to Australia. Albanese and his partner, Jodie Haydon, gifted the King a picture of Charles and Queen Camilla signing the visitor’s book at Parliament House in Canberra during their October 2024 trip. The frame itself was crafted from genuine Australian timber.
This meeting follows Albanese’s attendance at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and the King’s coronation in May 2023. Prior to the Balmoral visit, albanese held meetings in London with UK Prime Minister keir Starmer and Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch.
“It will be quiet a privilege to go up to Balmoral tomorrow, I’m looking forward to it,” Albanese stated on Friday at Stoke Lodge, the Australian High Commissioner’s residence in London, while also acknowledging protocol preventing detailed discussion of the meeting beforehand.
Despite being a longtime supporter of an Australian republic, Albanese affirmed his respect for the King, stating, “That’s a matter for the Australian people, but I respect his majesty.”
The Prime Minister’s 11-day visit to the US and UK has drawn criticism from Australian opposition leader Sussan ley, who accused Albanese of using taxpayer funds for “swanning around” and engaging in partisan political activities by attending a Labour party conference and meeting with former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair. Ley has called for a full accounting of the trip’s costs. Albanese is scheduled to address the UK Labour party conference on Sunday, becoming the first australian prime minister to do so.
