‘Appalled’: Aussie monarchists slam republican money grab

Republicans are mobilising a campaign in preparation for a visit to Australia by King Charles and Queen Camilla as monarchists hit back against the move. Have your say.

Not everyone is happy with news of a possible visit by King Charles, with the Republican Movement using it as an opportunity to fund raise by sending out an email on Monday requesting $7 donations from supporters.

“We’ve written to the King to ask for an audience to discuss what an Aussie republic could look like,” National Director of the Australia Republic Movement Isaac Jeffrey said.

“If Charles accepts our meeting request, we’ll let him know what Aussies are telling us, including that they want to stay in the Commonwealth, and want to keep and strengthen our defence and economic alliances with the UK.”

Australian Republicans would like to meet with Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla when the Royals visit Australia this year. Picture: HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

“We’ll let him know Aussies simply want an Aussie to be our Head of State, advocating and championing Australia full-time, like he and his family do for the UK, their industries and their people.

“And we’ll let him know an Aussie republic isn’t a reflection on him, his family or the British people, it’s about us - our future, our independence and our democracy - and we’ll always be close friends and sporting rivals.”

The monarch, 75, who revealed he was diagnosed with cancer last month, is expected to visit Australia in October after attending the Commonwalth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

The King and Queen will be visiting Australia in October this year. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

The Australian Monarchist League’s Eric Abetz has hit back at the Republican Movement.

“The Republican Movement’s crassness goes from one self inflicted disaster to the next. After the unfortunate passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II they could not wait to test the waters only to find that the fondness for the constitutional monarchy had in fact grown,” he said.

“Now they are seeking to raise money on the back of a visit by the King knowing he is battling cancer. Decent Australians are rightly appalled and repulsed by these insensitive Republican attempts to raise money for their faltering cause on an occasion such as a Royal visit.

“While the Republicans busy themselves trying to turn a wonderful occasion into a protest Australians will rightly avoid and ignore Republican stunts. Such stunts will simply energise the resolve of Australians generally and members of the Australian Monarchist League in particular to maintain our unique system of government.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday called on state premiers and chief ministers to pitch for why King Charles and Queen Camilla should experience the best of their state or territory.

The head of the Australian Monarchist Philip Benwell welcomed the potential visit while criticising anti-monarchists.

“We earnestly trust that the premiers will respond positively to the Prime Minister’s call and put forward a constructive case for Their Majesties to visit their State,” Mr Benwell said.

Originally published as ‘Appalled’: Aussie monarchists slam republican money grab