Sorry Lidia and republicans, Charles is still Australia’s King
One day I think Australia will become a republic, but it’s a long way off. Republicans – and Lidia Thorpe – might need to change their tune.
Opinion
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Is it time for the republicans – and Lidia Thorpe – to give up trying to abolish Australia’s constitutional monarchy?
Because it wasn’t all old ladies and British expats lining up in their thousands to see the King and Queen on their Australian tour, not at the Opera House anyway.
Take the delightful Tilly Cooper, 13, from the Northern Beaches, who managed to shake the hands of both Charles and Camilla, calling it the greatest honour of her life.
“I’m never washing this hand ever again,” she said, jumping up and down in excitement.
When Charles said to her, he hoped she hadn’t waited too long, she said “anything is worth the wait to meet you, your majesty”.
It’s enough to make any republican choke on their latte.
I was at the Opera House on Tuesday and saw first-hand the queue of people, wearing tiaras, and other royal paraphernalia, snake past the ferry terminals at Circular Quay. Some had been waiting since 11am.
They had to shut the gates when the crowds inside reached 6500, for health and safety reasons. There were at least another 1000 in the surrounding areas lining the streets, who had no hope of seeing anything more than a glimpse of the couple speeding past in a car.
But still they stood.
I was left wondering what other elderly couple could draw a crowd quite like this in Australia?
It seems the Windsor brand is cutting through to Gen Alpha and Gen Z. The royals – and even Charles and Camilla in their mid-70s – are mega celebrities.
Protests were left to a few lonely individuals – including Senator Thorpe’s solo spectacle. And she was roundly condemned by nearly everyone for the way she went about it.
As a Brit and proud Australian citizen, I am a monarchist. By that I mean that I want to see the royals continue on in the UK. I think it is weird that Australia’s head of state is a King from the other side of the world.
But I can see why Aussies have warmed to Charles. He seems genuine in his efforts to make things better, whether it is conservation and sustainability or helping the disadvantaged.
He’s also got the sympathy factor after his cancer diagnosis.
And he does seem to have a deep love for this country.
One day I think Australia will become a republic, but it’s a long way off. After Charles, there’s William, Diana’s boy, and he’s even more popular than his father.
For me I am happy to wait.
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Originally published as Sorry Lidia and republicans, Charles is still Australia’s King
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