King Charles & Queen Camilla - Visit to Australia and Samoa: October 2024


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
I think the position of BP has been clear under QE2 and KC3. If the people of Australia (or any other realm) want a President and not a King, they are free to make that choice. It is for the elected government of the day to hold the necessary referenda, and replace the monarch, following due constitutional and legal processes.

The British monarchy does not gain any kudos nor does the King derive any benefit from being Head of State of Australia. It is a matter purely for the people of Australia.
 
Alison H said:
Apologies if this is off topic, but please could someone explain to me why (in reference to the Daily Mail article) one of the state premiers has renamed Anzac Day? I've always been under the impression that Anzac Day (also marked here in Lancashire, as Gallipoli Day, as many members of the Lancashire Fusiliers sadly lost their lives that day, alongside many soldiers from Australia and New Zealand), was considered to be very important in Australia.

Although I would be sad to see Australia become a republic, I understand why people may feel that Australia needs its own Head of State, rather than someone who lives on the other side of the world. However, I really don't see the need to decapitate a statue of George V. But that seems to be the way that protesters carry on these days - don't get me started on people who block roads, or throw paint to spoil other people's enjoyment of sporting events!
Click to expand...
Support for the republic is pretty much at a low right now according to the polls. I don’t see any realistic chance of the monarchy being replaced by a republic in the near future.
 
With a republic the questions are:

Elected or appointed ?

If appointed, by who?

If elected – direct or indirect election?

What powers would any president have?

How would the constitution have to change?

What would the relationship be between the states & a president?

In my opinion the ARM would be best served by conducting themselves in a reasoned & respectful manner. Snubbing their head of state is not a good look. After all, the last time the Australian people were asked, a clear majority said no to a republic so it’s not as if the present system does not have democratic legitimacy.

And Australians live in an increasingly dangerous corner of the world. That’s why they want nuclear subs. Being in a personal union with not just the UK but also Canada & NZ won’t go unnoticed in Beijing. Any conflict in the Pacific would involve the Royal Australian Navy & its vessals prefixed by HMAS – His Majesty’s Australian Ship. Intangible as this may seem symbols do matter in international relations.
 
Curryong said:
I do not believe that most people who would vote ‘Yes’ to an Australian republic in any future referendum are automatically members of the ARM. Just as Australians who would vote ‘No’ would be as a matter of course members of the ‘Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy’ association.

I do know however that Sky News and Ben Fordham are both of a conservative stamp, and the fact that a convenor of the Australians For a Constitutional Monarchy group was invited to comment live on the ad (which I haven’t seen and will take no notice of anyway) says plenty about the bias shown on that particular programme.

My views are my own. I don’t take my opinions from external forces (whoever they are) pushing their agendas.

I voted to retain the monarchy in the sole referendum on the subject held nearly a quarter of a century ago. I have changed my mind since. I feel Australia needs its own Head of State who is Australian, not a royal person who visits on average every couple of years or so, (not that I would welcome more frequent royal tours.) And so I will vote accordingly next time.
Click to expand...
[.....]

The King has already said that he will support the will of the people of Australia regarding their Head of State in a referendum. If you can find someone better, he will accede to that.

In the meantime, he IS your Head of State.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The new UK government's only been in power for five minutes and has already been involved in a list of scandals involving free concert tickets, free designer clothes, using party donors' flats for jollies, etc etc. As a president would presumably come from one of the current political parties, I'll take a hereditary constitutional monarchy over elected politicians any day. However, I'm not sure that I'd be very keen on having a head of state who lived on the other side of the world, so I take the Australian republican movement's point. But I think it's rather rude of the state premiers not to attend the reception.

The journey from the UK to Australia's gruelling even for someone in perfect health. But I'm sure that the King wouldn't be going if his medical team had advised against it.
 
Curryong said:
My views are my own. I don’t take my opinions from external forces (whoever they are) pushing their agendas.

I voted to retain the monarchy in the sole referendum on the subject held nearly a quarter of a century ago. I have changed my mind since. I feel Australia needs its own Head of State who is Australian, not a royal person who visits on average every couple of years or so, (not that I would welcome more frequent royal tours.) And so I will vote accordingly next time.
Click to expand...

Interesting.
A genuine question : did you change your mind because you felt at some point that Australia needed an elected Head of State or because you deeply dislike, by your own admission, Charles III and Queen Camilla as individuals?
It's one thing to see the Monarchy as a bygone system who doesn't quite fit Australia as a modern and independan country and another to hold a grudge to the actual sovereign and his wife for, obviously, their personnal lives and actions 40 years ago or so.
As such could your future and potential vote be a way for you to "punish" them and the "external forces" be, in fact, your very own feelings againts , not the institution itself, but the actual couple representing it ?
 
Last edited:
Very good points because since I've been able to vote (okay only for a Head of Government) I've never thought by the next election that who I voted for last time was
a) a great Head of Government
b) someone I liked personally.
 
The Sydney Opera House is going to have a four-minute montage played … repeating on loop … on it’s sails on Friday night.

Images will be shown of previous visits here to Australia by Charles.

Apparently we didn’t do it for the Coronation … which surprises me as it is not uncommon for the Opera House to be used in this way for various events … as a cost-cutting measure.

Good to see this has been announced so people know and may go into the city to see it, (those who don’t work around there).

Though being Friday night … the time the Couple arrive in Australia … there will be plenty of people about, especially if the weather is good.

After-work drinks are a big thing on Friday evenings all around the CBD, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour before everyone goes home to the suburbs for the weekend and family life, so if it is pleasant out this is the liveliest time of the week.

It’s a nice idea and shows me we’re ready for a festive time when Charles and Camilla are in town.
 
Last edited:
I can understand the QLD Premier not attending the reception as he is in the last days of an election campaign the polls are predicting him to loose in a big way - so he won't be premier within a week of this visit. Normally the royals steer clear of politicians in election mode so that one makes sense to me.

The NSW Premier I can also understand as he will have many engagements with Charles during the visit as most of the visit is to his state.

The others are just typical of Labor and left leaning Liberals.

As for a republic - after last year's defeat in the referendum on the Voice the government and others said that it will be a long time before another attempt is made to get a referendum through. We don't like change here as shown with only 8 successful referenda in 45 attempts since Federation (and I suspect one of those wouldn't pass the 'non-age discrimination test' to even make it to the vote these days - the maximum age a High Court Judge can be is 70 and that is in the constitution - but there is no upper age limit on any other job in the country),
 
Labor and the others are just embarrassing themselves, and us. Imagine a politician pretending to be "too busy" to meet the King and thinking people will fall for that!! :rolleyes: I voted in the 1999 referendum to retain the monarchy and I'll do it again if we have another one, which @Iluvbertie has accurately suggested won't be anytime soon. My vote, like many here in Australia, does not actually have anything to do with who the Head of State is. We may be a young country, but we are growing up and looking at the bigger picture (economic, strategic etc). When we do become a republic it will only be when it is most advantageous to Australia and only after the difficult process to make that change has been thoroughly worked through.
 
Nico said:
Interesting.
A genuine question : did you change your mind because you felt at some point that Australia needed an elected Head of State or because you deeply dislike, by your own admission, Charles III and Queen Camilla as individuals?
It's one thing to see the Monarchy as a bygone system who doesn't quite fit Australia as a modern and independan country and another to hold a grudge to the actual sovereign and his wife for, obviously, their personnal lives and actions 40 years ago or so.
As such could your future and potential vote be a way for you to "punish" them and the "external forces" be, in fact, your very own feelings againts , not the institution itself, but the actual couple representing it ?
Click to expand...
Twenty five years ago when the last and sole referendum was held on this question my youngest grandchildren were very small. They are now adults in their twenties and one of them will be marrying soon.
In discussions between them and their friends over the last ten years, as well as with younger friends and work colleagues in a community centre in which I worked before retirement, I grew to realise that the feelings towards the monarchy that I and the older generations had were not applicable really to anyone who grew up here in Australia who was under forty. The monarchy for the main part is just not relevant to their lives in any way, shape or form. That has been my main feeling for about the last decade or so.

I do not feel the same way about King Charles or his wife as I did about the late Queen. I was born and grew up in England and I liked and admired Diana. Revenge of any sort however does not come into my thoughts on the question of the future of my country Australia and its Head of State.

I am very well aware of the constitutional difficulties regarding a change of this sort just as I was in 1999. However a great deal of water has gone under the bridge since then. I do not expect that PM Albanese will be holding any referenda in his next term if he gets in as ‘the Voice’ referenda result was such a blow. However, I do expect one in the next decade.

And as for polls, results on the republic question have gone up and down over the last twenty years. I do not regard this last one, commissioned by the Australian version of a British newspaper, to be the be all and end all of this issue. And I do believe that there will be an Australian republic in the future. It is inevitable.
 
Last edited:
The premiers have known for months when this tour was to happen and could easily have scheduled their cabinet meetings for a different day.

The QLD Premier knew that the visit would be in the middle of his election campaign as QLD has a set date for the election - fourth Saturday in October every four years.
 
irish_royalist said:
[.....]

The King has already said that he will support the will of the people of Australia regarding their Head of State in a referendum. If you can find someone better, he will accede to that.

In the meantime, he IS your Head of State.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know that, I’ve lived in Australia since 1970. Both he and the late Queen said so. And, incidentally if they or rather any Governor General did try to disrupt the process it would become known and certainly wouldn’t go down well to say the least.

In the meantime King Charles is my unelected Head of State, who represents a foreign power abroad and lives halfway across the world.

[.....]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
There is the British Media again, it always raises its head. Has the Governor General attempted to disrupt any process.? This discussion is in relation to the Politicians making excuses not to meet the King that you do not like. Not a single poster on here has said that the King must be head of state or that Australia should not make its own decision, the King himself has said the same. It is a different world that it was 70 years ago, so things and opinions will change.
[.....]
The King and Queen are guests in Australia, and it is not a good look to be rude to your guests, not at all what Australians are known for.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It looks like The King and Queen will be staying at Admiralty House.

The streets all around have Clearway/Tow-Away signs in all directions.

From 5.00pm tomorrow until 11.30am Wednesday the three streets that go towards, and up and down past, are out-of bounds for parking.

Hard on the local residents as this is a densely populated suburb, and most live in apartment blocks without off-street parking.

Parking is hard at the best of times. There are never any spare spaces as people from other areas also park here to use the train and ferries.

Even people with a disability permit will not be allowed to park as per normal.

However, Charles and Camilla are visiting Sydney at the right time.

For several years now we have had an Australian version of Cherry Blossom Time, but for us it is with the Jacaranda trees.

These are all over Sydney, and are just at their peak at the moment.

One of the most famous streets for this is just down some steps from me and this road is closed from early morning to late evening each Saturday and Sunday for six weeks.

This became necessary … with traffic wardens in position as well as barricades … as everyone comes out for the experience, and their Instagram accounts, and were endangering themselves with the cars that normally go through here.

The whole suburb is currently in a purple haze from these trees.

We’re also overloaded with the scent of Star Jasmine which is also at its peak. Great hedges and falls … totally covering fences and cascading down walls … all over the streets.

A beautiful day today, perfect really, but I think the weather may crack up again.

And since the last Royal visit the big black metal gates that are in front of Admiralty House have had a sheet of something put across them. Bullet-proof I guess, though clear and you can still see through into the drive, gardens, where the cars pull-up etc.

I’m thinking these gates and the bollards may keep people out, but anyone could run up there with a gun before this was put in place and there was no protection. Looks a bit odd, but necessary for optimum security I suppose.

One side of Admiralty House has a lane down the whole length of it, with only a paling fence … new … with some barbwire at the top … old and rusty.

I just walked down that and some-one in the block of flats that have their entrance onto this walking lane have their outdoor table and chairs there, up against this little nothing fence.

Maybe the Federal Police will move that somewhere .. up on a chair, onto the table and over you go.

I know once when Queen Elizabeth stayed here a fire-truck was parked in the driveway for the duration of her stay, complete with firemen all kitted up sitting in it.

Perhaps there will be officers on patrol tomorrow, and all those cars parked everywhere today will be gone and the streets quite bare.
 
The ABC has released an "unofficial" guide on seeing The King and Queen. It's unofficial, because the full itinerary are not made in public. The news website did mention that The King and Queen will greet the crowd in Canberra on the 21st and Sydney on the 22nd.
Here's where you can catch a glimpse of Charles and Camilla in Australia

Coincidentally, on the first day of visit, 18th October, Cunard's MS Queen Elizabeth will arrive at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay and depart later in the evening. There are other cruise ships stopping at Sydney Harbour for the next couple of days, including Disney, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity and P&O Australia.
Sydney Cruise Schedule
 
Charles and Camilla will attend a church service here in Sydney on Sunday morning.

It isn’t a public event, so hasn’t been widely announced, but I guess they will go to the Anglican Cathedral St Andrew’s in the CBD.

There is also a no-go zone for water craft in place around the shore of Admiralty House from 4.00pm this afternoon until next Wednesday, for a hundred metres out.

The ferry will still sail back and forth past it every half hour though … and people can still walk the streets.

There is a foreshore access terraced park on the other side of the grounds that will stay open I think, popular with people rock fishing from there.

The Governor-General and NSW Premier are going to meet the Royal Couple at the airport.

Dismal grey day again today after a spectacular sunrise. The King will get a great view of this from Admiralty House over the next few days if he is an early riser … the sun rises in this direction at this time of year. We’ve been having a lot of those lately, so hopefully a few more for the next couple for days.

Royal Reporter Chris Ship did Bridge Climb yesterday and you can see what beautiful weather it was then. (In the video report.)


Australian media are now reporting that the Prime Minister will also be going to the airport for Charles and Camilla’s arrival tonight.

The Royal couple are just about to board their plane in Singapore, and are due to arrive in Sydney at 8.30pm.

There is still active speculation that The King may turn up at the races tomorrow … The Everest is on, our answer to the Melbourne Cup … even though Saturday is designated a rest day. Things will depend on how everything has gone for the long trip here I guess.

And the couple may be attending church locally on Sunday, rather than go into the CBD. Some streets in North Sydney are going to be closed around one of the Anglican churches there in the morning.

Media here are also reporting that Charles underwent his cancer treatment this week, but will now have a two week break from it.

https://www.facebook.com/100065001962026/posts/pfbid02Z1gr8b2g2j91zbMrTNJEdBNTTSwLCWzMyF9sZZw9i3R2a4ZkN8jDKQT7SR2AqreXl


Video and photos of Charles heading to Heathrow. Camilla was already in Singapore.

www.thesun.co.uk

Charles jets off from Heathrow Airport ahead of nine-day Australia tour

King Charles is jetting off from Heathrow Airport ahead of his gruelling nine-day Australia tour – with 36 engagements planned. Charles, 75, was pictured arriving at Heathrow Airport to catch…
www.thesun.co.uk www.thesun.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Sun Lion said:
Australian media are now reporting that the Prime Minister will also be going to the airport for Charles and Camilla’s arrival tonight.

The Royal couple are just about to board their plane in Singapore, and are due to arrive in Sydney at 8.30pm.

There is still active speculation that The King may turn up at the races tomorrow … The Everest is on, our answer to the Melbourne Cup … even though Saturday is designated a rest day. Things will depend on how everything has gone for the long trip here I guess.

And the couple may be attending church locally on Sunday, rather than go into the CBD. Some streets in North Sydney are going to be closed around one of the Anglican churches there in the morning.

Media here are also reporting that Charles underwent his cancer treatment this week, but will now have a two week break from it.

https://www.facebook.com/100065001962026/posts/pfbid02Z1gr8b2g2j91zbMrTNJEdBNTTSwLCWzMyF9sZZw9i3R2a4ZkN8jDKQT7SR2AqreXl


Video and photos of Charles heading to Heathrow. Camilla was already in Singapore.

www.thesun.co.uk

Charles jets off from Heathrow Airport ahead of nine-day Australia tour

King Charles is jetting off from Heathrow Airport ahead of his gruelling nine-day Australia tour – with 36 engagements planned. Charles, 75, was pictured arriving at Heathrow Airport to catch…
www.thesun.co.uk www.thesun.co.uk
Click to expand...
Wow, 9 days and 36 engagements for a 75 year old undergoing cancer treatments? This sounds pretty ambitious and stressful to me!
 
It’s an ambitious agenda, but no surprises that the King would be keen to carry out as many engagements as his medical team will allow him to undertake. The Queen has previously taken a short break before embarking on a state visit, particularly before a long haul trip.
There’s bound to be a ‘tonic’ for them both from the warmth of the Australian people who will turn out to see them.
 
wbenson said:
Live video of the arrival at Sydney Airport:
Click to expand...
Question for anyone who might know the answer. Did the couple depart from the UK on a RAAF plane or did they break up the flight and board the RAAF plane from a different location?

The Sydney Opera House with a special light display to welcome the King and the Queen.
 
TLLK said:
Question for anyone who might know the answer. Did the couple depart from the UK on a RAAF plane or did they break up the flight and board the RAAF plane from a different location?
Click to expand...
The King apparently traveled from Heathrow to Singapore on a commercial flight (I haven't seen which airline, but I'd guess Qantas since travel to realms is arranged by the realm government). The Queen was already abroad (I assume she had stayed at her usual location in India) and met the King in Singapore, where they boarded the RAAF plane.
 
TLLK said:
Question for anyone who might know the answer. Did the couple depart from the UK on a RAAF plane or did they break up the flight and board the RAAF plane from a different location?
Click to expand...
According to our news sources here the King and Queen were picked up by the RAAF plane at Singapore. They travelled from Britain to Singapore in a different plane.
 
Curryong said:
According to our news sources here the King and Queen were picked up by the RAAF plane at Singapore. They travelled from Britain to Singapore in a different plane.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that the King & Queen met in Singapore, and were picked by a RAAF plane there. The Queen travelled to Asia ahead of the King. My guess is she had a few days at the health farm in Bangalore that she likes to visit at this time of the year in advance of the trip.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

An Ard Ri
Cooking and the Crown 2024 by Tom Parker Bowles
Replies
2
Views
356
An Ard Ri
An Ard Ri
iceflower
Belgian State Visit to France: October 14 - 16, 2024
2
Replies
52
Views
4K
An Ard Ri
An Ard Ri
LadyFinn
Swedish State Visit to Singapore: November 19-21, 2024
Replies
18
Views
2K
JR76
JR76
Blog Real
State Visit from Iceland to Denmark: October 8-9, 2024
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
polyesco
P
iceflower
Queen Mary's Daytime Fashion Part 2: November 2024 -
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
polyesco
P

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom