King Charles has an 'open invitation' to New Zealand, country's PM says amid plans to scale back monarch's South Pacific tour - and axing the NZ leg entirely - on doctors orders

King Charles has an 'open invitation' to New Zealand, the country's Prime Minister has said amid plans to scale back the monarch's South Pacific tour.

The announcement comes amid plans to axe the New Zealand leg of the tour entirely on the doctors orders.

The tour in August is still scheduled to go ahead, but the King has been advised to take it easy after his cancer diagnosis.

Charles and Camilla are still planning to visit Australia and go to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa in October.

But visits to New Zealand and Fiji have been scrapped on doctors' advice.

The Telegraph reports that Christopher Luxon, the New Zealand Prime Minister, extended an 'open invitation' to the King.

But both are aware of the requirement for the monarch to not strain himself as he undergoes treatment.

He had planned to tour Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla, before continuing on the New Zealand however concerns were raised that the monarch is doing 'too much'.

A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'Officials first decided to drop Fiji and then New Zealand, because a trip like that is quite strenuous. 

'The tour will probably last around 10 days, covering Australia and Samoa.'

The court circular suggests that he has taken only three days off over the past two weeks. 

In January, the 76-year-old was admitted to hospital to undergo 'routine treatment' for an enlarged prostate. 

However, doctors soon discovered an unspecified form of cancer after tests in February, he has been undergoing chemotherapy since then.

He was cleared by his medical team in late April, declaring he was well enough to return to public duties after responding well to treatment.

A source told the Mirror: 'Naturally, it will be a bitter disappointment on both sides to not have the opportunity for the King and Queen to visit New Zealand, but of course all are aware of the King's ongoing health and the need for him to pace himself.

'It's very much hoped there will be further opportunities in the future.'

The Australia leg of the tour will be scaled back to around six days, with a break lasting up to two days before the King and Queen travel to Samoa for three days.

The visit by the King and Queen would be the first trip to Australia by a reigning monarch since 2011.

The last such visit was when Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

King Charles has already made 15 visits to Australia, his last being in 2018 to open the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and to visit parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The King has previously travelled to every state and territory, and it's expected all jurisdictions will make requests for the monarch to visit them.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said plans were already under way on possible logistics for the visit.

'The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis,' he said.

'The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia.'

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the King had a long connection with Australia, extending from his time attending Geelong Grammar.

'There is an affection for King Charles, I know King Charles has a deep affection for Australia,' he told ABC TV on Monday.

'A royal visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla later in the year would be a really, really tremendous and popular event and I do think that Australians would very much welcome seeing King Charles in our country.'

Sources in the country say state and territory leaders have been asked to deliver bids to host the royals aligned with two main themes, Charles's first visit to Australia as King and his deep interest in climate and sustainability.