Avowed republican Malcolm Turnbull looks set to meet the Queen at a special lunch for new Commonwealth heads of government in Malta next month.
The former chairman of Australia's republican movement is expected to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta's capital, Valletta, from November 27-29.
The Queen will preside over the opening ceremony and will be accompanied to Malta by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will have already met Mr Turnbull during their tour of Australia from November 10-15, when he welcomes them to Canberra on Remembrance Day.
After the CHOGM opening ceremony on November 27, the Queen will host a drinks reception and lunch for new Commonwealth heads of government at San Anton Palace, the Maltese president's residence.
The event is a traditional CHOGM event, giving the 89-year-old monarch an opportunity to meet newly elected heads of government.
About 18 new leaders are expected to attend, including Mr Turnbull, who has said that after CHOGM he will head to Paris for the United Nations climate change conference, which is expected to produce a global carbon emissions agreement.
The prime minister, who takes a far more proactive line on reducing carbon emissions than his predecessor Tony Abbott, is also likely to attend a Special Executive Session on Climate Action at CHOGM.
That session will also be attended by Prince Charles, who also takes a keen interest in climate change issues.
