The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has launched a campaign to label King Charles’ upcoming visit to the country a “farewell tour” for the British monarchy.
They said the veiled push – which included a collection of merchandise – was intended to spark debate about the royal family’s role in modern Australia, but monarchists said it was offensive.
The royal tour from October 18 to 26 marks the Queen’s first visit in more than a decade and will be King Charles’ longest since his cancer diagnosis.
This is also one year after the failure in Australia Make your voice heard in the parliamentary referendumMany say this hampers momentum for another referendum.
The country had already voted against establishing a republic in 1999, but public support for constitutional reform has grown since then.
On satirical posters, T-shirts, beer coasters and other paraphernalia, ARM’s campaign depicts the King, Queen and Prince of Wales as aging rock stars and urges Australians “young and old” to “step up to the throne” Wave goodbye.”
“We expect a full-time, dedicated head of state whose only allegiance is to us – a cause of solidarity at home and abroad,” Esther Anatolidis, co-chair of the movement, said in a statement on Monday. symbol.
“It’s time for Australia to say ‘Thanks, but we’ve taken this from here’,” she added.
The organization cited research it commissioned that found 92 per cent of Australians were either “supporters of the republic” or “open to it” and found that at least 40 per cent of respondents were unaware of the country’s head of state. is a republic.
However, independent opinion polls paint a different picture, with one survey showing that about 35% of people want to maintain the constitutional monarchy.
The Australian Monarchist League (AML) described the ARM poll as “exaggerated” while also criticizing its new campaign as “deeply disrespectful to Charles given his ongoing battle with cancer”.
National chairman Philip Benwell said: “His bravery should be praised, not insulted.”
Australia’s prime minister is a long-time Republican, but his government plans to vote on secession from the British monarchy on the ice earlier this yearindicating that this is no longer a priority issue.
Over the weekend, King Charles confirmed he had exchanged letters with ARM ahead of his visit, reaffirming the royal family’s long-standing policy that Australians determine their own future.
Australia’s constitutional vote is rare and difficult to pass, requiring a “double majority” – the support of more than half the country and a majority in at least four of the six states. Only 8 of 44 referendums were successful, almost all with bipartisan support.
The Voice referendum – which would have recognized Aboriginal people in the constitution and allowed them to form a body to advise parliament – was overwhelmingly rejected after a period of voting. Fierce debate.
