Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed talks are underway to lure Prince William and Princess Kate to Australia for an official tour next year.
Mr Albanese told British media that a royal visit was planned for the Prince and Princess of Wales and he hoped it would fall during the school holidays to allow the couple to bring their children George, Charlotte and Louis.
Discussions about when the new king will make his first official visit to Australia as head of state have not started.
Mr Albanese told UK broadcaster ITV: “There have been preliminary discussions about the current Prince and Princess of Wales’ visit to Australia.
“And of course the royal family has always been welcome here in Australia and would be welcome again.”
The last time William and Kate visited Australia was in 2014.
They welcomed nine-month-old Prince George, whose popularity was such that he was nicknamed the “Republican killer”.
Asked if that status made him “nervous” about inviting the couple’s children, Mr. Albanese – a well-known Republican – said younger members of the royal family were more than welcome.
“I think I hope that if they come to see them they will take their children with them,” he added.
The revelation came when William and Kate paid a surprise visit to Australians stationed near London as they prepared to attend Monday’s funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.
William wore a navy blue suit adorned with his military medals while his wife wore a black coat and hat.
The couple recounted how “odd” it was to plan the queen’s funeral just three months after her platinum jubilee, meeting soldiers from Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
William said his late grandmother would have despised her funeral and “hoping all was well”.
More than 90 members of the Australian Defense Force and Canadian Armed Forces rehearsed Monday’s parade at Pirbright Army Barracks in Surrey, one of the UK’s largest training bases.
The Prince and Princess spoke to Brigadier Grant Mason, Australia’s Chief of Defense in London, and then met 28 members of the Australian Defense Forces.
Australian troops came from the Royal Australian Artillery, the Royal Australian Engineers, the Royal Australian Ordinance Corps, the Royal Australian Infantry, the Royal Australian Air Force Reserves and the Royal Australian Navy.
The state funeral will also be attended by 25 other New Zealand Defense Force soldiers, who greeted the couple with a ceremonial haka.
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