I am pleased to announce that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will visit Australia from 28 February to 5 March 2005, travelling to Perth, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra.
The visit by His Royal Highness will focus on three major themes: environmental sustainability; excellence in public service; and community integration. He will use his visit to support environmental initiatives, sustainable fishing policies and urban regeneration projects.
The Prince will have the opportunity to meet a cross-section of Australians involved in a variety of projects of interest including medical staff, school teachers, sporting coaches, farmers and indigenous Australians. In addition the Prince will also attend a number of formal and informal receptions. There will also be a number of opportunities for the public to meet His Royal Highness.
Further details of the visit will be released closer to the time. His Royal Highness will travel on to New Zealand and Fiji from Australia.
This will be the Prince of Wales's thirteenth visit to Australia. His last visit was in 1994.
I know that Australians will welcome His Royal Highness with the warmth for which they are renowned.