King Charles has said he will not interfere if Australia decides to axe the monarchy and replace him as head of state.
Speaking to republican campaigners, he said that he has a “deep love” for the country but would stand aside if the people of Australia decided to remove him.
The monarch is set to visit Oceania next week, for his eight-day royal tour, which will also see him travel to the island of Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Australia Republic Movement (ARM) had written to Buckingham Palace prior to the landmark trip, requesting a meeting with the monarch.
In a letter in response to the request, Charles’ private secretary said that His Majesty had a “deep love and affection” for the Commonwealth country.
Dr Nathan Ross said: “Please be assured that your views on this matter have been noted very carefully.
“His Majesty, as a constitutional monarch, acts on the advice of his ministers and whether Australia becomes a republic is, therefore, a matter for the Australian public to decide.”
The anti-monarchists said that whilst they valued the “important contribution” of the Royal Family, they wished to “stand on an equal footing with other nations”.
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Charles and Camilla will visit Australia and Samoa this month for a Commonwealth summit
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However, they said they hoped that the two countries would remain “the closest of friends and allies” if a split was to occur.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently announced that he will not be holding a referendum for Australia to become independent from the crown.
The last referendum on the issue was held in 1999 and saw almost 45 per cent vote to ditch the monarchy.
The Australian PM has scrapped the republican ministerial role, which he created following his 2022 election.
Anthony Albanese recently announced that he will not be holding a referendum for Australia to become independent from the crown
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He justified his decision by stating that when elected, the “only thing [I] committed to” was to have one specific referendum – which he achieved in 2023 with the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.
Albanese is a “lifelong republican” and has repeatedly made his feelings clear on the matter – he has previously said: “I think that Australia should have an Australian as our head of state, I don’t shy away from that.”
However, earlier this year, he told local media that a referendum on such a vote is “not a priority” and there is “no timeline” for it.
The last referendum on the issue was held in 1999 and saw almost 55 per cent vote no to ditching the head of state.
Albanese swore allegiance to Charles at his Coronation last year and insisted that despite his political views, he still has a “great deal of respect” for the King.
