How republican Craig Foster got me and my princess in to meet the King and Queen

King Charles making a joke about my face, to my face, was not on this week’s bingo card, but it happened, writes Erin Molan.

King Charles making a joke about my face, to my face, was not on this week’s bingo card, but it happened.

Before I get into detail we need to go back a couple of weeks to understand how, indeed, I came to be before the King and Queen of England and Australia at a BBQ in Parramatta.

You see, I wasn’t invited. Hard to imagine why not but we must all accept our lot in life, and this was mine.

Or was it… Cue Craig Foster, former Australian soccer star and now media commentator, staunch republican and human rights advocate.

I like Craig and believe he’s done an enormous amount of good in the world. We don’t see eye to eye on everything - notably the current situation in the Middle East and clearly, as I’m now aware, the royal family.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla cook sausages at Parramatta Park. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

I was mindlessly scrolling on LinkedIn when I came across a post of his with an attached image of an invitation. Lo and behold it was to meet the King and Queen, extended by Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna. The caption written by Craig read:

“Thanks Anna and Chris but no thanks. I look forward to being ‘in the presence of’ our first Aussie head of state. When we put our big pants on as a country.”

I understand the monarchy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but didn’t quite understand the need to so publicly decline - given the honour that was bestowed upon so very few - a chance to meet them personally.

So instead of continuing to scroll I decided to try my luck.

I’d been with Premier Minns the week before discussing the issue of domestic violence and have a good relationship with him despite, again, not seeing eye to eye on everything.

I took a screen shot of Craig’s post and sent it to the Premier with the words ‘ummmmm I’ll take his?!!!!’ written underneath. Six hours later he replied ‘done’.

Erin Molan and her daughter Eliza got to meet the Royals. Picture: Adam Yip

So Eliza and I set off for Parramatta on Tuesday morning gloriously excited. She had practised her curtsy for days, and wore a $2 princess crown. I wore a hat from Kmart. We were truly fit for the King and Queen.

The moment arrived around 1pm and this is exactly how it went down. Queen Camilla first approached her, shook her hand and said ‘I love your crown’.

That was a win in our books. Next up the King.

I sacrificed my own opportunity to touch him, to direct him towards Eliza.

My own special moment of sacrifice for my child, I said “this is Eliza and she’s a princess too”.

He bent down, put his hand on her arm and said “Hello, Eliza”.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster is less keen on the monarchy. Picture: NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

He then looked at me and started laughing. ‘You two have the same face’ he said. I started laughing and said something along the lines of “I’d hope so - she’s my daughter” but he clearly wasn’t as captivated by me as we were by him, and within seconds our encounter was over.

He’d moved on to the lovely ladies next to us.

So, whilst there are many Australians who think the monarchy is archaic and no longer appropriate, there are just as many I suspect who love the tradition, stability and glamour of the royals.

Regardless of where you sit in the debate - the opportunity to meet them and be a part of history was truly an honour, and a moment my daughter won’t ever forget.

She may feel the same way as Craig one day, and want this country to put our “big pants” on too. Either way, she can also talk to her grandkids about the moment she met King Charles and Queen Camilla, and how special it was at the time - a magical occasion indelibly imprinted in her mind… presumably less so on theirs!

Join me for ‘Erin’ at 5pm this arvo on Sky News Australia for another big show!

My special guests this week include Israeli MP, Sharon Haskel, and Russian Opposition Leader, Gregory Yavlinsky, the exclusive, albeit brief, meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla… and a full wrap of domestic and international politics as we count down to the US election!

Originally published as How republican Craig Foster got me and my princess in to meet the King and Queen