King Charles reveals huge Pacific move

King Charles III is making a major commitment to universities in the Pacific after touching down in Australia for a historic royal tour.

The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme will offer fellowships to people at varying levels of their careers and studies in a bid to support homegrown solutions to the biggest problems facing Pacific nations, the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) announced on Sunday.

Many of Australia’s smaller neighbours are on the frontlines of climate change, with rising sea levels threatening homes.

But relative isolation also imposes a host economic and social challenges, prompting young people to look to bigger countries in the region to build their futures.

The King said he hoped the scheme would help further “the free exchange of knowledge” and build “towards a brighter future for all.”

“Throughout my life I have believed in the power of education to improve lives and unite communities across the Commonwealth and beyond,” he said.

“There is so much we can learn from one another as we work together within the Commonwealth to tackle the major challenges of our age and, as these Fellowships do in Small Island Developing States, to address them where they are felt most acutely.

“It is my fervent hope that these new Fellowships will play a significant role in furthering the free exchange of knowledge and advancing the spirit of mutual support that lies at the heart of our Commonwealth – today, tomorrow and towards a brighter future for all.”

The programme will draw on multiple areas of study and will be available to mid-career professionals, undergraduate scholarships, and PhDs.

ACU head Colin Riordan said it was a “one-of-a-kind programme”.

“Creating opportunities and facilitating knowledge exchange are at the heart of what we do, and drawing on our longstanding expertise in scholarships and the local knowledge of our member universities in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States, we are proud to work in partnership with our members in a range of Commonwealth countries to support the delivery of this important SIDS-focused legacy programme in His Majesty’s name,” he said.

The announcement comes as Commonwealth countries in the region, including Australia, question the relevance on the British monarchy in a post-imperial world.

The King and Queen touched down in Sydney on Friday night, where they welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns and Mr Minns’ mum, Cara.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have events in Sydney and Canberra from October 18 to October 23.

It is his 17th visit to Australia since his first trip in 1966 at the age of 17.