Prince Charles announced as special guest for Australian bushfire gala

Prince Charles has been named as a special guest for a glitzy charity gala aiming to raise money for the Red Cross' bushfire relief appeal.

The future king will rub shoulders with other elite guests at the black-tie event in London on March 12, which has been put together by Australia's High Commissioner to the UK, George Brandis, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Last month, Charles delivered a raw and emotional video message to the Australian public amid the devastating bushfire crisis.

The avid climate change campaigner was sombre as he admitted it was a "hopelessly inadequate way" of sending his support Down Under but explained he and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, "are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances".

"But I did want to say that both of us have been in despair over the last several weeks watching this appalling horror unfolding in Australia and witnessing so much of what you're having to go through from this distance," the Prince of Wales said.

"Those of you who have tragically lost your properties, your houses, everything – to me it is, and to both of us, not to be believed possible. And I know how many houses have been lost.

"But above all, we wanted to say how much we've been thinking of all those remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters who have done so much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion. And we feel so deeply for the families of those who have been lost and have lost their lives in the course of carrying out their remarkable duties, as only they can do.

"We also think of all the Australian wildlife that is destroyed in these appalling infernos, let alone everything else.

"I know, we both know, just how incredibly special and resilient the Australian people are, so I know at the end of the day, despite all this horror, you will find a way to face it all and win through.

"All I can say is that we are thinking of you, we are praying for you in the most determined way … I'm very proud to know you all."

His speech ended with a link to the Red Cross website, urging people to donate.

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Wishing all of our Australian followers a happy Australia Day! 🇦🇺 This year we pay tribute to the incredible strength and resilience of all the Australian people and communities who have been impacted by the devastating bushfires. © PA Images

A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal) on Jan 25, 2020 at 2:49pm PST

Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton are reportedly planning to tour bushfire-ravaged Australian towns this year.

It was reported last month that talks have been under way between the federal government and Kensington Palace for weeks, and that a formal invitation from Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected imminently.