PM Says Republic Debate Long Way Off, As He Prepares to Swear Loyalty to King

Britain's King Charles III speaks with Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, as he receives realm prime ministers in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace in London, England, on Sept. 17, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed concerns about swearing allegiance to the country’s head of state, King Charles III, despite being an outspoken advocate for introducing a republic.

Albanese told Sky News Piers Morgan that he thought it was appropriate after Australians voted against becoming a republic in 1999.

“I will do what’s entirely appropriate as the representative of Australia. Australians made a choice in 1999, and one of the things that you’ve got to do is accept a democratic outcome. We made that choice, and I will certainly engage in that spirit,” the prime minister said.

“I think you can be a lifelong republican, which I am, and still respect our institutions, and certainly I have a great deal of respect for King Charles.

“And it’s a great honour to be here representing … all Australians, [to] wish King Charles well, regardless of the different views people have of our constitutional arrangements.”

In 1999, the country held a referendum on whether Australia should stop being a constitutional monarchy and instead embrace a republic model that would see the Parliament elect a president.

Albanese’s remarks come after his government appointed the first-ever Assistant Minister for the Republic.

“The position of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) isn’t about getting rid of the monarchy, ” Albanese said.

“The position of the ARM is that an Australian should be the Australian head of state. And that’s what I agree with. I think you would do that. But Australia would, I would hope, continue to be involved in the Commonwealth. But I’m of the view that an Australian should be our head of state.

“I think that should be an appointed head of state, there should be some process whereby democratically elected institutions, in the House of Representatives and the Senate, have a say in that.”

The prime minister also said he believed that indecision around the various models for an Australian head of state was the reason that previous attempts at changing the system had failed.

Australian Republicans Concerned About Pledging Allegiance to King

Meanwhile, Australian republicans are concerned that those watching King Charles III coronation have been asked to say: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successes, according to the law so help me God.”

Instead, they are calling on Australians to pledge allegiance to Australians and Australian values instead of to the monarch.

“King Charles’ absurd request demanding all ‘his subjects’ pledge fealty to him and his heirs and successors during the Coronation ceremony has been rightly met with incredulity,” ARM said in a media release on May 1.

“Never before has the British monarch demanded such subservience from the Australian people.”

They have instead proposed Australians make the following pledge:

“I swear that my loyalty is to the Australian people and Australian values of equality, democracy and meritocracy. I pledge to stand against hereditary entitlement and commit to the realisation of these values in our Constitution so that all elected offices under the law, including our Head of State, are accountable to the Australian people.”

Monarchists Criticise PM For Failing to Honour Coronation

But, Australian monarchists have criticised the Albanese government for what they deemed a lack of veneration for the coronation.

They have launched a campaign against what they have called the Albanese government’s intention of bringing down Australia’s constitutional system.

“We feel that we must now mobilise monarchists throughout the country to protest against the insults that are occurring both to the King and to his people,” the Australian Monarchist League said.

“In May 2022, we saw the appointment of an Assistant Minister for the Republic. A totally unnecessary act if the prime minister’s comment that the issue of a republic was off the table until his next term of government was factual.

“It is clear that the Albanese government has no intention whatsoever of doing anything to honour the King of Australia on the day of his coronation, although the prime minister will be attending the actual coronation in London.

“He should hang his head in shame, as should all Australian governments, federal and state.”

The League also criticised the federal opposition for remaining silent on the issue.

“Politicians should remember that monarchists have a vote, and we, unlike politicians, will remember their betrayal of the Constitution, the Crown and the monarchy when called upon to cast their ballot at the time of the next election,” they said.