King Charles, the current British monarch, is visiting Australia for his first major foreign trip since being diagnosed with cancer. This visit has sparked debate in Australia about whether a British royal should be the head of state, but polls show that most Australians are still ambivalent about becoming a republic. Despite concerns about his health, the founder of the republican movement, Thomas Keneally, has accepted an invitation to meet King Charles and has expressed that the king believes the decision of becoming a republic is up to the Australians.
The support for Australia remaining a constitutional monarchy is at 45%, while support for becoming a republic stands at 33%. King Charles has a strong affection for Australia, having spent time living there in his youth. Although a national referendum on becoming a republic was defeated in 1999, the issue is still relevant today.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Sydney and Canberra, their trip has been shortened due to the king’s ongoing cancer treatment. The couple will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa before returning. Despite the changing demographics and culture of Australia, there is still a lingering attachment to the monarchy.
Pro-republic campaigners are distributing posters promoting the “farewell to monarchy tour,” reflecting the ongoing debate about Australia’s relationship with the British monarchy. Keneally, who founded the Australian Republic Movement, believes that Australia’s slow shift towards republicanism is evident in the diminishing presence of the monarch in public life.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com