OPINION
You almost have to feel sorry for Australian republic activists. Almost. Because then you remember that they’re people like Malcolm Turnbull and Pirate Pete FitzSimons, and you just laugh at them instead.
Because, for all their decades of hectoring, bullying, finger-wagging, and swearing that this time — this time — they’re finally winning, ordinary Australians just keep on supporting the monarchy. You’d think the drubbing they copped in the 1999 Republic referendum might have taught them a lesson or two in humility, but no.
They really thought their time had come when the late Her Maj finally shuffled off this mortal coil. For all their blatherskite about “respecting the Queen”, of course, the ABC’s cronies couldn’t even wait until she was in the ground before going on the attack. The national broadcaster’s coverage of the Queen’s funeral drew an avalanche of complaints, for its disrespectful and relentless attacks on the monarchy.
But, ha ha, surely that old duffer Charles will be so unpopular that a republic’s time must come now!
Think again, you dreary creeps.
A poll showing a number of senior working royals are more popular than our Prime Minister and some senior government ministers makes for “amusing reading”, says Sky News host Caroline Di Russo.
“Charles is more popular than Albo, Dutton is about as popular as Harry, and Richard Marles and Zali Stegall are both less popular than Meghan Markle,” Ms Di Russo said.
“This lump of rump can be sliced and diced in a number of ways.
“But in an overall sense, it does show that the monarchy isn’t the reviled and irrelevant institution that the Republicans wish it was.
“Too bad, so sad. For them.”
MSN
As Peter Garrett once moaned, “I hear much support for the monarchy”.
More importantly, though, if people trust our own politicians even less than the monarch, why on Earth would they give them the power to elect the monarch’s replacement? This was, in fact, the line Tony Abbott used so devastatingly in the ‘99 referendum: do you really trust politicians?
Meanwhile, the King has surprised even those of us who aren’t republicans.
King Charles III has thanked the public for their “love and support” on the first anniversary of the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, with royal watchers and public polling indicating he has done “exceptionally well” since his accession to the throne […]
The royal family continues to enjoy popularity in Australia with 34 per cent of people thinking the monarchy is good for the country. The poll found 54 per cent have a generally positive view of the royals.
In particular, fears that Charles would test the Constitution by interfering in politics have, so far, not come to pass.
At the time he was criticised as the “meddling prince” because of his interventions on a range of political issues including climate change. That changed when the Queen died. His ratings shot up to 63 per cent approval and have stayed around that mark ever since.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said Charles’ first speech to the nation after his mother died was the defining factor.
“His speech to the nation where he pointed out that, obviously, he would diverge from the activist Prince of Wales that he had been previously – that was what the job entails,” Fitzwilliams said.
His apparently-planned future efforts appear to be geared more to inoffensive, popular stuff.
Media reports say he will soon launch an initiative to combat food waste, something that would help maintain his long-term sustainability advocacy. He was also reportedly looking to scale back staffing levels within his household.
More importantly, after a low-key year of mourning, the King is due to step up to his role of being seen as the head of the Commonwealth.
But Charles’ second year is also expected to involve more travel – so far, his overseas trips have been limited to Europe and Germany. He is due to finally got to France on September 20, after an earlier trip – his first as King – was cancelled last year because of riots.
“I would definitely expect more on the Commonwealth,” Fitzwilliam said.
“We should expect more very soon, that’s very important. Queen Elizabeth used to say ‘I must be seen to be believed’. Well, there’s no doubt at all that they should be seen.”
Sydney Morning Herald
And the jumped-up parvenus of Australia’s wannabe Harbourside aristocracy will just have to sit on the sidelines and grind their teeth.