About six weeks after Queen Elizabeth II passed away, Buckingham Palace briefed the media far and wide that King Charles and Queen Camilla planned to be very active when it came to international tours, and that a big royal tour of Australia would be one of King Charles’s first priorities in 2023. Then the palace promptly forgot about it and prioritized the UK’s former European Union ties instead, making a point of planning out a visit to France and Germany, only to see guillotine-happy French people force Emmanuel Macron’s hand and cancel the royal visit. Still no word on whether Charles plans to visit Australia this year, nor is there currently any talk of sending William and Kate down under. It looks like the apathy goes both ways – Australians are, by and large, unconcerned about the coronation:
Hundreds of millions of people around the world are expected to watch the coronation of King Charles III. Craig Foster, the new face of Australia’s republican movement, will not be one of them. “Like many Australians, I see Charles as completely irrelevant to contemporary Australian life,” he said.
Foster was elected its chairman in November, replacing Peter FitzSimons, a prominent journalist, former Wallabies rugby player and a close ally of the prime minister. Foster’s national profile as a TV football pundit and human rights activist meant he was viewed as the ideal figurehead to seize the moment that republicans had been waiting for.
He said: “Queen Elizabeth was seen as stable presence over a very long period. In some ways that emotional connection that much of Australia had to the royal family has now been severed. Australia’s relationship with Charles is non-existent. He represents nothing that Australians look to and resonate with.”
The real power behind the republican movement is Albanese, who will attend the coronation in London but has resisted calls to grant an extra day’s public holiday to mark the event. Much to the disgust of the country’s monarchists, there are no official celebrations planned in Australia. Instead, the Australian Monarchist League has had to make do with a series of low-key events around the country, with screenings of the coronation at cinemas and clubs. Street parties are out, amid fears they will be hijacked by republican protesters.
Foster believes that Australians now associate the royal family with “scandal-ridden Netflix drama”, having watched The Crown. He thinks that royal reputations were further dented by the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare last year and the allegations of racism made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2021.
“This has really cut through with Australians,” said Foster, who argued that it reminded many people in Australia, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, of the monarchy’s historic links to colonialism and slavery. ‘Many people had been willing to overlook these issues simply because of the love they had for the Queen, but now they are looking at the crown in a very different way.’
During their week-long tour of the Caribbean last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales were greeted with protests. There were calls for apologies and reparations for slavery during their visit to Jamaica. Foster predicts a similar backlash from indigenous groups and republicans when Charles and Camilla are expected to visit Australia next year.
Other prominent Australians appear to share his view that the King will not be the country’s head of state for long. The Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman recently declared that it felt “natural” for Australia to become a republic. The singer Kylie Minogue, who spent most of her adult life in London before moving back to Melbourne during the pandemic, reportedly turned down an invitation to perform at the King’s coronation concert due to growing republican sentiment in her home country. “She’s absolutely right,” Foster said. “Some very well-known, globally recognised Australians have made it very clear that they see an Australian republic as an inevitability.”
LMAO: “the Australian Monarchist League has had to make do with a series of low-key events around the country, with screenings of the coronation at cinemas and clubs. Street parties are out, amid fears they will be hijacked by republican protesters.” Maybe I don’t understand Australian culture, but would republican protesters even give a sh-t if some “monarchists” threw a little party? It would be more of an annoyance more than anything else. It’s far more likely that the monarchists are having issues organizing events because of the lack of interest entirely. And once again, what happened to all of those promises for royal visits to Australia? Now those visits have been pushed back for 2024? Charles must be terrified of sending William and Kate to Oz because they’ll inevitably turn it into another disastrous Caribbean Flop Tour. Or worse yet, a repeat of the Boston Flop Tour, where Peg and Buttons were largely ignored.
Photos courtesy of Instar.
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- North America Rights Only – Abaco, Bahamas -20220326- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Daystar Evangelical Church Abaco in The Bahamas, to learn about the impact of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and to see how communities are still being rebuilt, on day eight of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. Abaco, a chain of islands and barrier cays in the northern Bahamas, was hit by winds of up to 185mph during Hurricane Dorian in 2019 leaving 75% of homes across the chain of islands damaged and resulting in tragic loss of life. During a visit to Fish Fry in Abaco, a traditional Bahamian culinary/. During a visit to the Memorial Wall to remember victims of the 2019 hurricane at the Memorial Garden in Abaco. During a visit to Grand Bahama Children’s Home, which provides a home environment to vulnerable children who are not able to live with their families -PICTURED: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated
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- North America Rights Only – Cambridge, UK -20220331- Prince Charles at King’s College to meet Cambridge Trust students who are Prince of Wales Commonwealth Scholarships Awardees during his visit to the city of Cambridge. -PICTURED: Prince Charles -PHOTO by: Justin Tallis/PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220322- Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge meet locals during a visit Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae in Kingston, Jamaica, on day four of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Chris Jackson/PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220324-Royal Visit to the Caribbean – Day 6 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attend the inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean who have recently completed the Caribbean Military Academy’s Officer Training Program, in Kingston, Jamaica, on day six of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220603- National Service of Thanksgiving On Day Two Of The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations -PICTURED: Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67259902 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – Yellowknife, Canada -20220519- Prince Charles And Camilla Duchess Of Cornwall attend a Platinum Jubilee Ceremony at Ceremonial Circle, in Yellowknife, during their three-day trip to Canada to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. -PICTURED: Prince Charles -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – New Providence, Bahamas -20220325-The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception hosted by the Governor General of the Bahamas Sir Cornelius Alvin Smith, at the Baha Mar resort on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas to with meet community leaders and people from across the Bahamas’ many islands, on day seven of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee -PICTURED: Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William -PHOTO by: PA IMAGES/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220603- National Service of Thanksgiving On Day Two Of The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations -PICTURED: Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67259151 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- North America Rights Only – Kigali, Rwanda -20220623- Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Rwanda. -PICTURED: Prince Charles -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
This is Diana’s revenge!
I applaud them all with a standing ovation!!!!
OMG! That pic of Khate looking like a Stepford wife makes me laugh every time I see it. There was some monarchist on a local radio station a few days ago sputtering on about how important the royal family is to Canada. He did not neatly sidestep questions about slavery and personal reputations. The royal family and their ilk caused havoc in Canada, the repercussions of which are still being felt today and will be for a very long time. Save the planet from further trauma; stay home!
I haven’t heard of a single Canadian coronation celebration. Thank God. Here’s to hoping we chuck them in my lifetime.
Canada didn’t do much for the jubilee either. We are over the monarchy. And frankly, more than a little passed they still have not apologized to indigenous canadians for the abuses at Residencial schools. Even the pope apologized. It doesn’t look good when even the catholic church is more progressive than you.
Coming by to say the same thing. Canada does not seem to have a very loud republican or monarchist league, and zero parties (street or otherwise) to my knowledge are being organized. Maybe there will be something afoot at the local Lieutenant Governor’s residences? (def not in Quebec though).
I haven’t even learned if his ugly mug is going to end up on our currency.
I work in a military building and all images of the Queen have been removed and so far… not replaced.
Um. Under Canada’s constitutional setup, the sovereign acts under the advice of an elected representative, meaning King Charles and crew can’t visit Canada or take a significant action — such as issuing an apology to Indigenous people for their treatment under the Crown — without the approval of the PMO. So if you want the Crown to apologize for its treatment of Indigenous people, write to the prime minister and your member of parliament.
Every time I see that pic, all I can think of is Men in Black…
Bug in Eeeedgar suit… “Gimme the cat!”
😂😂😂😂
I’m from Australia, the feeling here is
P–ss off, its outdated and we love Harry and had respect for the Queen, mostly for the older generation
I am gen x
Also Australian, and I second this.
Also from Australia and also agree. Frankly even if there was a public holiday people wouldn’t be celebrating Chuckles crowning but going to the footy or the beach (weather dependent). The Young Liberals (our version of the young GOP/Tories) hired a small cinema to watch and they are being thoroughly mocked.
It’s not just that our PM is a republic supporter. Australian’s watched the UK drop us like hot potatoes when the EU came along, then expect us to be overjoyed when they wanted us as a major trade partner again post Brexit. Too little too late.
This is before we get to the dismissal of a sitting PM in the 70’s.
Australia as a Republic, no longer supporting BRF!
DO IT! ASAP.
I truly think if Australia goes, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will go quickly also.
Canada might take longer but I hope they go too.
Turn it all into museums.
Stop using huge amounts of tax payers money to support this bunch of idiots.
The people are able to run their own Governments.
The BRF is nothing, has zero power or control. They are wealth hoarding horrible drains on their countries people.
Down with The Monarchy!!
Queen Elizabeth held on bc she had the job so long, most people alive only think of her as BRF.
I think the younger under 50 population is more than ready to call it done.
Em, Ireland has been gone a while, don’t know if you heard but there was a bit of a kerfuffle.
The Republic isn’t even in the Commonwealth, though somehow the British royal family refuses to acknowledge it.
Northern Ireland.
Huzzah-just the beginning of divorce from the Commonwealth! I think they held on by a thread when Liz was in charge.
There’s a significant footnote in history that was huge to Australians. In the mid-1970’s, the winning PM candidate was dismissed by the Governor-General of Australia (the representative of the monarch in Australia) and replaced by the opposition candidate.: See below. The constitutional explanation is complicated, but it was all perfectly legal. The bottom line is that Britain directly interfered with the politics of Australia at the highest level.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Australian_constitutional_crisis
…and they say that the monarchy doesn’t have real power. As a front for British empirical power, s/he certainly does.
So maybe Oz will say “enough” now.
That historic event, when the Whitlam government was dismissed in 1975 by the Governor General Sir, John Kerr, actually turned out to be a corrupt act. Whitlam was a wonderful Prime Minister, and Australia would have been a very different place than what we’ve had since then had he been allowed to continue governing the country.
Now, what we have in Australia, is a very unusual situation. We are a country of six states and two territories. In the last couple of years, we have had a federal election and all state elections. Like many other countries, we usually have a mix of red states.- Labor Party, and blue states -the Liberal National Party (the Conservatives). Once all the elections were done and dusted, we found ourselves with the entire mainland, five states, and two territories being held by Labor, with only the island state of Tasmania, still held by LNP. And we are a federal Labor. So the groundswell against the monarchy is particularly strong right now. We had almost a decade of the LNP government who did nothing and cared less. We now have a Prime Minister, who is patently decent whose ministers are decent and it’s like the windows and doors have been opened to let fresh air, sunshine and warmth into the country.
We are experiencing crises of our own. To my understanding when Royals visit, it is up to the host country to foot the bill. We have many more important people to see to and money to spend on, than showing these fat cats a good time. They can piss off wherever they want to, or to whomever will have them. We don’t need them here.
Not that I’ve checked, but I think the sixth is Saturday. London is about 10 hours behind the east coast. So by the time the crowning goes on it will be night time. During the day people will be at football or shopping or doing family things after a week of work.
Craig Foster is a fantastic leader for the Republican movement and also as a human rights activist, and he’s got his finger pretty much on the pulse of Australia right now.
So the message to the Royals is, stay where you are we don’t want you here and we are busy tending to really important human issues,
Seriously, thank you so much for this comment. I’m in the U.S., and I didn’t understand how England is still a part of your business in Australia.
Reparations and republics, now!
😂😂😂😂
Good on Australia for saving the money in the public purse for something else. I wish U.K. councils were doing the same given the shambles public health, energy affordability and community support are in and the prevalence of food poverty and a cost of living crisis.
I salute you Australia, and Ireland, and our hood neighbor Canada. I hope you all chuck old Chuck
It’s a high bar for constitutional amendments in Australia (absolute national majority plus majority in every state) and Albanese’s government is focused on the referendum for the Voice later this year. Delaying the royal tour to 2024 works perfectly for the republican side, when people are reminded how awful C&C are up close it will galvanize sentiment against them further.
A fair few of us British republicans also think that the monarchy owned land etc should be returned to the people, and the institution disbanded!