The Australian Republic Movement’s decision to run a campaign called the “Farewell Tour” while King Charles III battles cancer is beyond tasteless. And don’t be fooled into thinking it was just an unfortunate choice of words.
It was a deliberate, double-edged insult designed to make light of King Charles’ illness. They can deny it all they want, but the timing and tone were no accident. They knew His Majesty was ill when they came up with the campaign. It’s cynical politics at its worst.
Anthony Albanese and his government did everything they could to downplay King Charles III’s visit to Australia—and they failed spectacularly.
Despite the Prime Minister’s lifelong Republicanism, despite his government having the audacity to appoint a Minister for the Republic in a constitutional monarchy, Australians have made their feelings abundantly clear: we love our system of Constitutional Monarchy, and we aren’t ready to trade it in for a president any time soon.
On a trip that wasn’t even heavily publicised, on short notice of the details, thousands of Australians flooded every event, eager to catch a glimpse of His Majesty. Well over 6,000+ people packed into the Sydney Opera House for a chance to shake his hand or simply stand in his presence.
The government’s lack of enthusiasm was palpable, as if they were hoping no one would notice. But Australia noticed.
Then there’s the Australian Republic Movement—a group that’s so out of touch with the sentiment of everyday Australians, and captured by the same rotten political forces that brought us their greatest hits like the Voice to Parliament, that it borders on farce.
Let’s not forget Senator Lydia Thorpe’s outburst during the King’s visit to Parliament—a moment that might as well have been a gift to Australian monarchists.
Watching a radical, fringe politician scream in opposition to the very institution most Australians still support was all the advertisement we needed to show what kind of people are leading the Republican charge.
When the loudest voices for a Republic come from the far-left extremes, it’s no wonder everyday Australians are walking away from the idea in droves.
Only 46% of Australians even support the concept of a republic, let alone agree on how we’d elect a president. Should it be two-thirds of parliament? Direct election by the people? Or, why not draw names out of a hat? Maybe we’ll turn it into a reality show—last person to keep their hand on Government House in Yarralumla gets to be president for four years.
At least that would be entertaining…
We saw it with the Voice referendum, and we’re seeing it here again. Radical, divisive rhetoric doesn’t win over Australians. Senator Lydia Thorpe’s outburst and her sharing of a cartoon depicting a decapitated King Charles is a prime example, even if she later claimed it was posted by staff –
(But if you’re gullible enough to believe that excuse, I’ve got a bridge over Sydney Harbour to sell you.)
– such tasteless actions only show how extreme and out of touch these voices have become.
What does win Australians over?
Stability, continuity, and respect for the institutions that have served us well. That’s what King Charles represents, and his visit only reinforced that.
The Australian Republic Movement and Albanese’s government can push their Republican agenda as much as they like. But as we’ve seen this week, it’s not working. Australians aren’t buying it.
Instead they’ve spoken with their presence, their enthusiasm, and their support for the Crown.
And if King Charles III’s visit has shown us anything, it’s that the bond between Australia and the monarchy is far from fading—it’s alive and stronger than ever.
GOD SAVE THE KING!