With the King and Queen currently undertaking the second official tour of the new reign in France, a royal expert explains why it is more important than ever that the royals launch a "charm offensive" in the Commonwealth.
Their Majesties previously visited Germany and were due to travel to France on the same tour but were forced to reschedule – at President Macron's request – after riots in the French Capital made it too dangerous.
With two visits to Europe under his belt, and no announced plans for any tours in any major Commonwealth countries, questions have been asked when the King will travel to other countries where he is Head of State, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
This is especially true after ongoing suggestions that some realms may wish to follow in Barbados' example and strike out on their own.
Speaking exclusively to OK! , former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said of the decision: "It does seem rather tame to go to Germany and France first, but these visits are made on the advice and at the request of the Foreign Office.
"Clearly our relationship with Europe has become more strained as a result of Brexit, so it is down to the King and Queen to smooth ruffled feathers and tread a sometimes very delicate diplomatic path. It is something Charles is well versed in."
While a six-month tour around the Commonwealth like the one Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh undertook between 1953 and 1954 will not happen, Jennie adds that perhaps longer journeys may be be taken on by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
She says: "The King and Queen are getting quite elderly and, although, there will definitely be some long haul trips (Kenya for example) we may well see some of the really lengthy ones handed over to William and Catherine.
"Camilla hates flying, so this is a part of the job she is going to find quite tough. But she will get on with it, as she always has.
"It is clear that all the working royals are going to have to put on a charm offensive with Commonwealth countries as the clamour to ditch the monarchy gets louder."
While the full details are yet to be announced, the King is expected to visit Samoa when it hosts the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Also on the agenda is a reported trip to Kenya, according to The Mail on Sunday.
Even though Kenya does not recognise the monarch as head of state it is thought to be an important part of the Commonwealth and was famously where Princess Elizabeth was in 1952 when she found out she had succeeded her father, King George VI.
One visit that is already in the diary for Prince William and Kate is to Singapore in the autumn for the third annual Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony.
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