Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has abandoned his push for the nation to become a republic.
The move is a huge boost for the monarchy’s standing Down Under and comes in time for King Charles and Queen Camilla‘s visit to the country in October.
The royal pair will carry out engagements in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, before heading to Samoa for a Commonwealth summit.
It was unknown whether the trip would take place at all in the weeks that followed news of Charles’ cancer diagnosis in February.
Crushing the spirit of republicans Australia-wide, Mr Albanese announced yesterday that he will not be holding a referendum for Australia to become a republic.
King Charles with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an audience at Buckingham Palace on May 2, 2023
The Australian PM (pictured) has abandoned his push for the nation to become a republic
King Charles and Queen Camilla will carry out engagements in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales in October, before heading to Samoa for a Commonwealth summit
Mr Albanese defended his decision to scrap the republican ministerial role, which he created following his 2022 election.
‘I said before I was elected prime minister, I intended to have one referendum. It is the only thing I committed to.’
Mr Albanese was referring to the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.
The Australian PM has never shied away from his desire for Australia to separate from the monarchy and become a republic.
Many supporters of the movement had long believed the death of the Queen would be the catalyst for Australia to seriously consider moving away from the monarchy.
But Mr Albanese swore allegiance to King Charles at his coronation in May in the wake of the Queen’s death, and despite being a ‘life-long republican’, insisted he has ‘a great deal of respect’ for the King.
He also assured members of the public both in Australia and abroad a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic is out of the question for the near future.
Charles and Camilla’s tour in October will not extend to New Zealand, as had been planned initially.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The King’s doctors have advised that such an extended programme should be avoided at this time, to prioritise His Majesty’s continued recovery.’
The programmes in Australia and Samoa would be subject to doctors’ advice and could be modified accordingly, the palace said earlier this month.
