King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Sydney today, greeted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and local representatives, including Governor Sam Mostyn, who welcomed the royal couple amidst light rain at the airport. This marks Charles III’s first state visit to Australia since becoming king, reigniting discussions about the potential abolition of the British monarchy as Australia’s constitutional head of state.
According to the Associated Press, the Sydney Opera House lit up its iconic sail-like roof tonight with images of King Charles III and Queen Camilla from their previous visits to Australia, officially welcoming the 75-year-old monarch for a six-day visit. However, the trip has been shortened due to Charles’ earlier cancer diagnosis.
Charles is only the second reigning monarch to visit Australia, with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, having made her last visit 70 years ago.
Despite the grandeur of tonight’s ceremony, the topic of constitutional reform and the future of the monarchy has once again surfaced in Australian discourse. Monarchists hope that this visit will strengthen ties between Australia and the monarchy, while republicans are advocating for a head of state from Australia rather than someone from the opposite side of the world.
The Australian Republic Movement is seizing the moment, likening Charles’ visit to a tour in the entertainment world. Co-chair Esther Anatolitis stated that the royal visit “can be seen as a performance.” She expressed concern that this serves as a reminder that Australia’s head of state is not only part-time but also based overseas, holding positions in multiple countries.
In contrast, the Australian Monarchist League is advocating for maintaining Australia’s constitutional ties to the UK. National chairman Philip Benwell is hopeful for a positive reception from the public towards the royal couple. He commented, “Visits like this bring the king closer to the people, as our monarch is not domestically based. This visit is a way to bring the monarchy back to Australia. We have a king as part of our constitutional monarchy.”
