Australia has no easy road to a republic after the Queen’s death – and Charles’ PR makeover makes it even less likely

As a staunch republican and a founding member of the Australian Republican Motion, I can not however admire the extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth II. I've little doubt that Australia would have turn into a republic a very long time prior to now if it weren't for her.

It's tough to consider anybody in Australia’s historical past that has been held in such excessive regard and for such a protracted time frame. She was adored all through Australia even earlier than she grew to become our Queen. 5 years earlier than her coronation, when she married Prince Philip in November 1947, Australians from all of the cities and cities took to the streets in giant numbers to have a good time the marriage, which, within the age earlier than TV, was broadcast nationally on radio.

Australians despatched greater than 2,000 wedding ceremony items and greater than 10,000 congratulatory telegrams. As a result of Britain nonetheless had wartime rationing, the Australian Lady Guides despatched seven giant crates of elements to England for an enormous wedding ceremony cake, together with sugar, icing sugar, flour, cinnamon, almonds, sultanas, raisins, crystallised cherries, butter and a bottle of Australia’s finest brandy. The Australian Labor prime minister Ben Chifley was extensively criticised for not accepting the invitation to go to London for the occasion.

Her coronation 5 years later sparked even bigger avenue celebrations. Along with all of the retailers being closed, the trams in Melbourne have been stopped as a result of too many individuals have been spilling on to the streets.

But none of those earlier celebrations may evaluate with the reception she acquired on her first tour royal tour of Australia in 1954, the place, for 2 months, she and Prince Philip visited all states and territories, travelled greater than 30,000 kilometres and an estimated 75% of the inhabitants got here out to really see the royal couple.

Over a interval of 57 years she made 16 visits to Australia – on common one tour each three or 4 years – and was invited to officiate at a few of our nation’s greatest events, together with the opening of the Sydney Opera Home in 1973. Even Labor politicians who have been lifelong dedicated republicans couldn’t resist basking in her recognition. In 1974, prime minister Gough Whitlam invited her to open the Australian parliament. In 1988, Bob Hawke invited her to formally open the brand new Parliament Home in Canberra.

A lot of the success of the Queen’s reign has been as a result of exemplary means she remained neutral as dramatic social change and controversy swirled round her. In all of the years she was on the throne we nonetheless don’t know her private view on lots of the huge problems with our time – equivalent to local weather change, feminism, multiculturalism and same-sex marriage.

Among the many prolonged royal household, solely Princess Diana ever acquired near the Queen by way of recognition with the Australia public.

Realising that Australians have been unlikely to ditch the British monarchy for a republic whereas Queen Elizabeth was on the throne, some republicans argued that the problem was finest left till she died and Charles grew to become king. In spite of everything, polls over time have proven Australians have by no means warmed to Charles as they must his mom. Certainly, for a few years in Australia, in addition to within the UK, Charles has polled as one of many least well-liked royals, alongside together with his second spouse, Camilla.

Nevertheless, in current instances palace spin medical doctors have efficiently given Charles and Camilla a profitable PR makeover and they're each now extra well-liked than they have been.

I believe it might be a mistake to suppose Australians are able to embrace a republic. There is no such thing as a doubt Queen Elizabeth leaves the monarchy as a robust establishment, regardless of the just about complete disappearance of the British empire throughout her lifetime. To many Australians “if it ain’t broke … don’t repair it”.

Such is the power of assist for the monarchy as an establishment throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II that when Prince William and Kate introduced their then child son George to Australia in 2014, the native newspapers reported assist for a republic had slumped to its lowest stage in 35 years, main one paper to explain child George because the “republican slayer”.

David Hill is the writer of Australia and the Monarchy

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