King Charles III has expressed he will not obstruct Australia’s potential transition to a republic, according to reports. As he prepares for a visit later this month, the King is adopting a non-confrontational stance towards Australian republican advocates, the Daily Mail stated.
In response to the Australian Republican Movement’s (ARM) request for a meeting, the King’s assistant private secretary conveyed His Majesty’s “deep love and affection” for Australia. Nathan Ross emphasized that as a constitutional monarch, the King operates on the advice of his ministers, leaving the decision on Australia’s republican status to the Australian public.
The ARM, which advocates for an Australian head of state, highlighted that Australia previously held a referendum on the matter in 1999, where 54.9% of voters opted to maintain the monarchy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has voiced support for an Australian head of state but has indicated that a second referendum is not currently a priority.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson reiterated that, like his mother, the King believes the issue of republicanism should be decided by the Australian people. Graham Smith, leader of the British campaign group Republic, noted a general apathy towards the King’s visit, stating that many Australians seem indifferent to the royal family’s presence.
He aims to promote the UK campaign against the monarchy and emphasize that many in Britain do not support royalism. This upcoming visit marks King Charles’s most significant international tour since his cancer diagnosis and his first as the head of state of Australia.