Republican movement attacks Queen Mary in revived referendum push

The movement has shifted from blaming the No campaign to Queen Mary for lack of interest in Australia becoming a republic.

King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark wave on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after a declaration on the accession to the throne.

The Australian Republic Movement has attempted to capitalise of the ascension of Australian-born Queen Mary to the Danish throne in a fresh call for a referendum.

In a bizarre statement released on Monday, the organisation compared the Danish royal couple’s promotion as the “stuff of medieval fairytales” and “not modern representation” and cited the growing unpopularity of King Charles and both the Norwegian and Dutch royal houses.

“Many Australians will feel joy in seeing a local Tassie girl becoming Queen after marrying her handsome Prince, who overnight became King of Denmark. It’s the stuff of fairytales with the gowns and jewels, glitz and glamour to boot. But just like a children’s book, it might be fun to read and look at the pictures, but it’s a long way from how modern stable democracies should choose their representatives,” the organisation’s national director Isaac Jeffrey said.

“Mary seems like a great person, someone who could have risen through the ranks of any organisation or of society to become a leader in her own right. It’s a pity she had to leave Australia to become head of state. Under an Australian republic, a young girl from Tassie could one day rise to become our Aussie head of state – a position forever blocked to her while we default to the British Monarch.”

Queen Mary is not a head of state. 

Her role of queen will not see her granted a position on Denmark’s Council of State. Only the monarch, heirs and the former Queen Margrethe, should King Frederik X be unable to govern, will have regent duties.

Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, Prince Christian, Queen Mary and Princess Josephine watch as King Frederik walks out onto the balcony as king for the first time.

Monarchist and Queen Mary’s former deportment coach Terese Page said using the Danish royal family as an example for a republic is jarring and not in line with the reality of life in the small Scandinavian country.

“Historically the kings of Denmark have had this incredible history through the decrees of progressing the culture, the economy and the development of a Danish culture,” Ms Page told The Australian.

“Mary serves as patron of over 30 charitable organisations, including the United Nations Population Fund, the European regional office of the World Health Organisation and has her own foundation, The Mary Foundation, while advocating for maternal health, anti-bullying and social isolation.”

Mr Jeffrey also cited the cost of living crisis as another reason to ditch the model of monarchies.

“Regardless of how you feel about Mary or Charles, it’s not surprising to see questions arising throughout the world about the role of Monarchs in our societies. As Aussies, Danes and Brits tap their credit cards at the checkout, borrowing for their weekly shop, they see their leaders, their representatives living lives of luxury. Luxury built on the hard work and toil of others. Luxury gifted by marriage and birthright. Luxury inherited, not earned. It’s no wonder people are questioning why these chosen few should be given such privilege and wealth, while the rest of us have to work hard just to make ends meet,” he said.

#BREAKING: Australian-born #PrincessMary becomes Queen of Denmark as King Frederik X takes throne.

From all of us #DownUnder we send His Majesty #KingFrederikX and Her Majesty #QueenMary our heartfelt congratulations on their accession to the throne.

🇦🇺🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/Rapvqp6V09

— The Australian Monarchist League (@Austmonarchist) January 14, 2024

This fresh push to replace the British monarchy with an Australian head of state comes mere hours after the Republican Movement’s co-chairwoman Nova Peris told The Australian there is no appetite for constitutional change in Australia as long as there is a No campaign against it.

Ms Peris said a republic referendum should not be held and would inevitably fail if there was any dissent to it.

She said Australia’s most successful referendum occurred in 1967, “when there was no No campaign”.

“We need a campaign where everyone says yes,” Ms Peris said.

Ms Peris said it was up to parliamentary leaders to come to a bipartisan agreement on a republic before it was put to a vote, saying “both people at the top need to be in agreeance with it”.

the Labor government, which promised a republic referendum and even has an Assistant Minister for the Republic, has caved in to the general ennui about the question and junked the promised referendum – and apparently any serious discussion of a republic with it.

Since the defeat of the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum, Anthony Albanese has refused to commit to another referendum for constitutional reform despite installing an Assistant Minister for the Republic.