If the government asks whether the King is willing to visit China, a senior royal aide revealed that King Charles III would consider the prospect very carefully.
Such a trip would mark the first state visit to China by a reigning British monarch in 40 years, though no formal plans currently exist, zaobao.com.sg reported.
The disclosure emerged after the King concluded a nine-day tour of the Caribbean. The senior aide described China as an extremely important yet deeply complex nation, noting that arranging any royal itinerary there presents significant logistical challenges.
In October 1986, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip traveled to China, making history as the first British sovereign to complete a state visit. That milestone followed the 1984 signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration regarding the future of Hong Kong.
Unlike his late mother, King Charles maintained a notably critical posture toward Beijing for decades. His past ties to the Dalai Lama and his absence from official state banquets hosted for former Chinese leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao showed that distance.
When attending the 1997 handover ceremony in Hong Kong as the Prince of Wales, Charles referred to Chinese officials in private journal entries as appalling old waxworks. The contents leaked in 2005, triggering temporary constitutional friction and diplomatic strain.
The monarch also skipped the state banquet during President Xi Jinping’s 2015 state visit to the United Kingdom, though he and his wife Camilla did host the Chinese delegation at Clarence House.
The Times reported that the King’s current willingness to contemplate a trip shows his perspective has changed. Charles has reportedly acknowledged that his constitutional role as sovereign leaves little room to sustain past personal positions on foreign nations.
LONDON, United Kingdom — A British monarch has only ever made one state visit to China: Queen Elizabeth II four decades ago. King Charles III would consider undertaking the second, according to an aide. Read more: https://t.co/zLZr146iZW pic.twitter.com/TOMtQN92iu
That prospective openness has already sparked pushback from conservative factions in Westminster. Former Conservative Party leader Smith condemned the prospect as shocking, arguing that Beijing should not be rewarded with a royal state visit.
Bilateral ties between London and Beijing have weathered persistent friction in recent years over Hong Kong, human rights disputes, and espionage allegations. Even so, Prime Minister Burnham’s administration continues the cautious diplomatic thaw initiated by predecessor Keir Starmer, who traveled to Beijing in January.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office maintains that royal state visits require formal advice from the government. Downing Street indicated that inquiries regarding potential royal travel belong with the palace.
Reuters observed that while the British sovereign must maintain strict political neutrality, royal aides note that the government increasingly turns to Charles for sensitive diplomatic assignments. Officials view the monarch as an effective asset capable of engaging audiences that traditional politicians struggle to reach.
During his visit to the United States in April, Charles delivered an address to Congress emphasizing the importance of NATO and calling for sustained support for Ukraine, diverging from elements of the Trump administration's platform. His recent Caribbean journey, meanwhile, involved navigating debates regarding historical slavery apologies and financial redress.
Palace advisers argue that the King excels at delivering nuanced messages on thorny topics, assisting the government in managing intricate international relationships without crossing partisan lines.
