King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Sydney today, marking the monarch’s first official visit to an overseas country since ascending to the throne. The royal couple was greeted at the airport by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, and the local representative of the monarchy, Governor Sam Mostyn, all braving the light rain.
This visit reignites discussions within Australia about the future of constitutional monarchy in the nation, particularly the ongoing debate regarding the potential abolition of the monarchy altogether. Despite the splendor of the occasion, sentiments are mixed among Australians about having a British monarch as their head of state.
The Sydney Opera House welcomed King Charles with a light show featuring images from his and Camilla’s previous visits to Australia. The six-day trip, though short by royal standards, was cut back due to health reasons, as King Charles was recently diagnosed with cancer.
As the second reigning monarch to visit Australia—following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who last visited 70 years ago—the king’s presence has stirred conflicting feelings among the populace. Supporters of the monarchy hope this visit reinforces the connection between Australia and the crown, while republicans advocate for a homegrown head of state rather than one from halfway around the world.
The Australian Republic Movement has framed the king’s visit as akin to a publicity tour, launching the “Wave Goodbye to Royal Reign with Monarchy: The Farewell Oz Tour!” campaign. Co-chair Esther Anatolitis criticized the visit, stating, “It serves as a reminder that our head of state is not a full-time Australian but a part-time official based overseas.”
Conversely, Philip Benwell, national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, expressed hopes for positive public reception of the royal couple. He remarked, “Royal visits help bridge the gap because our monarch isn’t physically present here. This visit brings the monarchy closer to home and reinforces that Australia does have a king as part of a constitutional monarchy.”
