King Charles is set for an emotional visit to Kenya – where his mother became Queen

King Charles is planning an emotional visit to Kenya later this year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In an apparent desire to put the Commonwealth at the heart of his reign, he is expected to visit East Africa even before reorganizing a visit to France abandoned in March for security reasons.

The trip is sure to evoke memories of her mother, as it was there that she became queen, aged 25, after the death of her father, King George VI, in February 1952.

An insider said: “It will be a poignant moment. It will inevitably be a reminder of his young mother at the start of her reign. Now he’s at the start of his own, but he also has the advantage of experience.

“It will also be an important marker for his reign which will underline how much importance he places on the Commonwealth.

“Her Majesty wants to bring people together. He knows that the relationship will change between the royal family and the kingdoms and other countries of the Commonwealth, but is keen to preserve and protect common values.

The first official visit of his reign was abandoned by the French government amid widespread rioting in response to Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age.

In the end, King and Queen Camilla were only able to complete the second leg of their itinerary, which was a trip to Germany.

The aides are now studying the logistics for the king to follow in his late mother’s footsteps.

A source said: “Plans are in place for the King to visit Kenya later this year. He wants to visit the Commonwealth.

Pictured: Elizabeth walks past the Governor of Kenya, Sir Philip Mitchell, at a garden party at Government House, Nairobi, in February 1952

The East African nation holds a unique place in royal history as the then Princess Elizabeth was on an official visit there with Prince Philip when she learned that her father had died in the early hours of the 6 February 1952 and that she had ascended the throne.

The royal couple had landed in Nairobi less than a week prior to begin a world tour on behalf of the ailing king. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Sagana Lodge, a bungalow given as a wedding gift by the Kenyan government.

They then traveled to the Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park. The late monarch entered a treehouse among the branches of a giant mgumu fig tree as a princess and descended a queen.

The hotel was later destroyed by the Mau Mau and rebuilt. The region holds memories for the king, who visited Kenya four times.

Nearby is Prince Charles Campsite, a clearing where Charles grew his first beard while on safari while visiting with his sister, Princess Anne. Further trips followed in 1977, 1978 and 1987.

The first official visit of King Charles’ reign was abandoned by the French government amid widespread rioting in response to Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age (file photo)

The first visit to a Commonwealth country as king, however, will be a milestone in his reign.

Although he is not one of the 15 kingdoms that recognize him as its head of state, he is nonetheless an influential member. A source said strengthening ties between the “family of countries” supported by his late mother will be one of the main concerns of his reign.

Last June, he represented the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda. He told them: “We meet and talk as equals. The constitutional arrangement of each member as a republic or monarchy is solely the decision of each member country.

Next year he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa and visit Australia and New Zealand.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on future overseas visits.