King Charles holds diplomatic audience at Highgrove House

King Charles welcomed Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea to Highgrove House in Tetbury, Gloucestershire today, meeting against the backdrop of the stately residence’s iconic front door. 

The discussion, held in a relaxed yet formal setting, underlines the deep ties between the UK and Papua New Guinea.

This meeting marks Charles’s return to full royal duties following a brief hospital stay related to his ongoing cancer treatment. 

In late March, the King was admitted for a short period of observation after experiencing side effects, but he has since resumed official engagements, including meetings with the Prime Minister and hosting audiences at Windsor Castle

Ahead of a forthcoming state visit to Italy, the monarch also pledged support for a humanitarian aviation initiative, set to launch a new aircraft destined to serve remote communities in Papua New Guinea

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marape is on a ten-day trip that includes engagements in the United States before this stop in the Cotswolds. 

He praised the significance of the meeting at Highgrove, describing it as an important moment for discussing biodiversity, climate change, and deepening UK–PNG relations

From Tetbury to Rome, it’s shaping up to be a pivotal summer for Charles.