King Charles is planning to visit Australia next year in what is likely be a key test of his popularity as monarch, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, is expected to travel to Australia just before or after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, which is being held in late October.

“King Charles is planning to visit Australia and New Zealand in October,” the newspaper reported, quoting an anonymous diplomatic source, who had contact with the monarch.

 A source within Australia’s Labor Government, who also asked not to be named, said the visit had not been formally confirmed by Buckingham Palace, but added: “It’s very possible it will happen.”

“It would be around the time of CHOGM that he would come, either before or after, that would make sense,” the source added.