Roi Charles Australie: A Royal Visit Sparks Republican Sentiments

Roi Charles Australie: A Momentous Royal Visit

Afflicted with aviator glasses, Roi Charles III presented himself with a crown as large as his head and a crimson jacket, greeting the crowd with a rockstar smile, flanked by his wife Camilla and son Harry. This portrayal of Charles III in Australia may come as a surprise! It represents a caricature but has quickly been printed on T-shirts and dish towels ahead of the British sovereign’s arrival in Australia on October 18. This is indeed a political campaign orchestrated by the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), a political group advocating for the abolition of the royal family.

His visit reignites the debate over monarchy in Australia, where approximately one-third of the population now identifies as anti-monarchist. The ARM has framed this royal visit as a symbolic 'farewell tour' for the monarchy, akin to a fading rock icon bidding adieu to their fans. Esther Anatolitis, co-chair of the ARM, aims to punctuate Charles III’s visit with various events parodying what she dubs the 'Farewell Oz Tour' of the monarchy.

In contemporary Australia, democracy should not be a spectacle; we elect our representatives on merit, she asserts. According to a poll reported by the ARM, 40% of Australians were unaware that Roi Charles III also serves as the head of state in Australia—a fact that has been true since the reign of Queen Victoria.

Revisiting Historical Context

The British colonization of Australia began in the 18th century, culminating in the federation of all colonies into a dominion of the British Empire in 1901 following a referendum. Monarchical leadership has persisted since then, with British monarchs reigning over Australia as they do other Commonwealth realms.

• The last visit by Queen Elizabeth II occurred in 1954.
• Republican sentiment gained traction in the 1990s with Prime Minister Paul Keating's era.
• A 1999 referendum to establish a republic ultimately failed.

In recent years, figures like former Prime Minister Julia Gillard have sought to abolish the monarchy following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, but royal visits have bolstered the monarchy's image. Charles III, less popular than his mother, has again decreased Australians’ affection for the crown, evidenced by the Australian central bank's decision to remove his image from banknotes, replacing it with Indigenous figures.

The Current Royal Visit

The reception of Charles III’s journey has been underwhelming. Representatives from six Australian states intentionally skipped welcoming him. In fact, some UK commentators expressed disbelief regarding his less-than-stellar reception in Australia, especially since this marks his first visit following his chemotherapy sessions. Even anti-monarchist figures like Graham Smith from Republic participated in protests against the king.

During one such protest held recently, demonstrators brandished slogans demanding to 'decolonize' Australia, accusing Charles III of presiding over an 'empire built on genocide'. This sentiment was echoed in British press coverage, with The Telegraph speculating whether Charles III might be both the first monarch to visit Australia and potentially the last.