Republicans will exploit aversion to king Charles

Illustration: Sturt Krygsman

It is understandable that Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott have been briefed several times about public events to mark the death of the Queen, who turns 91 on April 21, and the legal and constitutional consequences for Australia when Prince Charles becomes king.

The Queen’s private secretary, Christopher Geidt, has written to Quentin Bryce and Peter Cosgrove about the Queen’s state funeral and observance of her passing. This correspondence, along with briefing papers from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, have been obtained by this column.

It is not surprising that republicans are also preparing for the Queen’s death. The Australian Republican Movement has a strategic plan ready to implement when the Prince of Wales becomes king of Australia. It believes republicanism will be energised by the affection many feel for the Queen being replaced with dislike for Charles III.

While the ARM is not waiting for the crown to pass to Charles — it is pushing for an advisory plebiscite in 2020 followed by a referendum to sever ties with the monarchy in 2022 — it sees the succession as an opportunity to bind new supporters to its cause, including conservatives.

“For many of a conservative persuasion, the last barrier to a republic will be lifted,” ARM chairman Peter FitzSimons told this column. “Australia will look at the monarchy with fresh eyes and decide they prefer a homegrown hero as head of state rather than a foreign monarch … Every step towards the coronation of Prince Charles will spark increased republican support as Australians say in unison ‘we can do better’.”

All of this planning may seem a little crass to some. But you better get ready for it. The demise of the crown will have profound ramifications for Australia given — as the official correspondence and briefing papers make clear — the Queen is Australia’s head of state. There will be surprise and sadness. It will be the end of an era.

First, there will be grieving for the loss of a wise and prudent monarch. The Queen has reigned since February 6, 1952. She has sat on the throne during 14 prime ministerships. She has conducted herself with dignity and grace. She has been, in many ways, the ideal monarch. Her death will be met with saturation media coverage. Parliaments will be suspended if they are in session or recalled if in recess for condolence motions. Flags will fly at half-mast. Bells will be tolled at churches. There will be regular gun salutes. Condolence books will be opened.

Buckingham Palace is planning for 10 days of official mourning after the day of death, known as D-Day. As I wrote in The Weekend Australian, the lying in state at Westminster Hall will take place four days before the state funeral on D+10, followed by a committal service and burial service. An Australian memorial service will be arranged.

Second, a new monarch must be proclaimed. The Accession Council, comprising Privy Councillors and other officials, will meet at St James’s Palace within 24 hours after D-Day. The proclamation will be signed and read in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. A coronation service will then be planned.

Third, the realms must validate the new king. A formal proclamation will be issued and read in Australia by the governor-general. The parliament must meet to amend the Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 to determine the king’s Australian title. Western Australia and South Australia will need to amend similar laws.

When these three phases — mourning the Queen, the succession of Charles and steps taken to recognise the new king of Australia — are completed, the ARM will step up its campaigning. This will be a test for Turnbull, who argued in December that the reign of Charles III is the time to revisit a republic. Most Australians, according to polls, agree.

But FitzSimons does not want to wait for a new king. “Australians can instead make the change to a republic at a time of our choosing,” he said. “We can then respectfully thank the Queen for her service and have her pass the baton to us to carry for ourselves. But we know that whatever happens, when King Charles inherits his mum’s job, it’s on.”

While the republic remains a distant reality for many Australians, the ARM has stepped up its campaigning. It has gained new members, is opening new university clubs and has attracted sizeable donations. A fortnight ago, it announced a new bipartisan parliamentary friendship group to help build political momentum.

Sir Robert Fellowes, the Queen’s former private secretary (1990-99), told me last year that the royal family is relaxed about an Australian republic. “The Queen and Prince Philip’s view has always been that it is the business of the people in the realm to decide whether they will or will not wish to continue with the monarchical link,” he said.

Charles expressed the same view on a visit to Australia in 1994. “It is the sign of a mature and self-confident nation to debate those issues and to use the democratic process to re-examine the way in which you want to face the future,” he said. He may be Australia’s last sovereign.

The risk for republicans is that the crown passes to Prince William after a short reign of Charles. William and Catherine will inaugurate a new age of monarchy that may rival the Elizabethan age. Australians will not so eagerly dispatch a young king and queen who attract a similar level of respect and admiration as that accorded to Elizabeth II.