Britain’s Royal Visit to Australia
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited Australia’s capital Canberra on Monday for their first visit to the city in nearly a decade. Charles’ six-day jaunt to Australia, which started on Friday, is the monarch’s first since he became the head of state of the commonwealth country in September 2022. It is also the British King’s first major foreign tour since he was diagnosed with cancer in February this year.
Image: Mark Baker/AP Photo/picture alliance
‘Give us our land back’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other senior officials hosted a reception for the King and Queen in Parliament House later in the day. Just moments after Charles wrapped up his speech in parliament about his time as a teenager in Australia and the threats of climate change, an Indigenous senator shouted anti-colonial slogans at him.
- Lidia Thorpe, an independent lawmaker who sits in the upper house, yelled, “Give us our land back! Give us what you stole from us!”
- She continued, “This is not your land, you are not my king,” as she railed against what she described as a “genocide” of Indigenous Australians by European settlers.
- Thorpe accused Charles of committing genocide against the Indigenous people and demanded a treaty and the return of their remains.
Australia’s Republic Debate
Meanwhile, the debate over making Australia a republic was brought up again. Albanese, who wants Australia to become a republic with an Australian head of state, told the king it was time for his role to end.
- Albanese acknowledged Charles’ respect for Australians but emphasized that “nothing stands still.”
- The Australian Republic Movement wrote to Charles in December 2023, requesting a meeting in Australia and advocating for their cause of severing constitutional ties with Britain.
Despite the requests, Buckingham Palace replied stating that the decision is up to the Australian public to decide.
Australia’s Future and the Role of the Monarchy
The visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Australia has reignited discussions about the country’s future and its relationship with the British monarchy. The demands for the return of Indigenous lands and a push for Australia to become a republic highlight key issues that are shaping the nation’s identity and governance.
As Australia continues to evolve, the debate over its constitutional arrangements and the role of the Crown will play a significant role in shaping the country’s future trajectory. The calls for recognition of Indigenous rights and the desire for greater autonomy reflect a growing sense of national identity and sovereignty.
By engaging in these conversations and debates, Australians have the opportunity to define their own path and determine the course of their nation’s history. The visit of King Charles III and the discussions surrounding it are symbolic of the ongoing dialogue about Australia’s place in the modern world and the values that underpin its society.