Prince is on his way

Charles and Camilla make date for Games

PRINCE Charles and wife Camilla will fly the royal flag at the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games as part of a Queensland sojourn fit for a king.

The next-in-line to the British throne and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall will combine their official roles at the event with a holiday in the Sunshine State.

The couple were formally invited to the Games by Prem- ier Annastacia Palaszczuk back in March and the Cairns Post understands the Prince has now confirmed their attendance for the April 2018 extravaganza in the first official royal visit to the Glitter Strip in more than half a century.

While the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip has officially retired from public duty, Games officials are still hopeful Her Majesty the Queen may yet travel to the Gold Coast.

In any case, Prince Charles is locked in for the Games, in his first visit to Queensland since 2012.

During the launch of the Games’ baton relay in London in March, Ms Palaszczuk and GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie vowed to roll out the red carpet for the royals and now they’ll have the chance.

Palazzo Versace and Star Gold Coast have been mooted as possible bases for the Prince during his stay on the Tourist Strip.

It is understood the Prince is keen to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland civic leaders would like the couple to soak up as much of the Sunshine State as possible.

It is not yet known how long the royals will spend here and details of their itinerary will be closely guarded.

Five years ago, Prince Charles and Camilla visited Longreach for a series of Outback engagements, but tourism leaders are hopeful the royal couple will make it to other corners of the state this time around, including stops in iconic destinations like Noosa, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays and the Reef.

Their visit, and the huge media exposure expected to accompany them, could be worth millions to the Queensland tourism industry, which views the UK as one of its most important markets.

Prince Edward is also reportedly “likely” to attend the Games, while Queen Elizabeth II is expected to announce her intention to visit the event by October.

Her Majesty spent a day on the Gold Coast during an Australian visit in 1963.