King Charles III and Queen Camilla will arrive in Australia on Friday ahead of official engagements in Canberra and Sydney, at a ceremony that won’t feature Australia’s Premiers.
The pair are scheduled to attend a welcome ceremony at Parliament House. However, TDA has confirmed none of the sixPremiers will be in attendance.
Pro-monarchist figures say their absence shows a “huge lack of respect” for the Royals.
State leaders have defended the reasons for missing the ceremony, which include scheduling conflicts and election campaign commitments.
King’s visit
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will touch down in Sydney on Friday night. The Royal Visit is Charles’ first trip to Australia since he.
The pair will spend the weekend in Sydney, before heading to Canberra to meet with the Prime Minister and senior political and community figures.
It’s not clear how many Federal MPs and Senators will be there, as it is not a parliamentary sitting week.
Premiers’ plans
NSW Premier Chris Minns will host the royal couple in Sydney. However, a NSW Government spokesperson said Minns won’t attend the Canberra ceremony due to a “scheduling clash”.
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan said: “My schedule is such that I’m just not able to make the reception next Monday”. She added that the King would be “warmly welcomed” if his schedule allowed him to visit Melbourne.
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Queensland’s Premier Steven Miles told the ABC he “won’t be able to make the party with the King” because he’s in the middle of a state election campaign.
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas won’t be able to go to Canberra because he’ll be at a Cabinet meeting in the town of Whyalla, a Government spokesperson confirmed.
Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockcliff “has had to regretfully decline the invitation to attend”, according to a Government spokesperson.
Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook “is unable to attend due to other commitments”, a Government spokesperson told TDA.
Reaction
The Australian Monarchist League has criticised the decision of state Premiers not to attend the Canberra ceremony.
The League’s Victoria spokesperson,, said: “Rejecting this opportunity shows a huge lack of respect for their oaths of office.”
UK tabloid newspapers have also criticised the call. The Daily Mail said the King was receiving the “cold shoulder”, while The Sun called the Premiers’ reasonings “suspected excuses”.
Australia’s Republican Movement, which is in favour of the country becoming independent, has described the visit as the King’s “farewell Oz tour!”. The movement is holding events in most states to “wave goodbye” to the King.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, meaning Charles is our head of state. The King is represented by the Governor-General federally and Governors at the state levels, all of whom are expected to attend Monday’s ceremony.
Albanese appointed an Assistant Minister for the Republic when he first came to power. He has since removed the role.
