Natalie Richards: Premiers are disrespectful to snub King Charles and Camilla for their Australian visit

Having spent most of his life as the world’s most famous 2IC, King Charles was never going to command the same amount of fanfare as his late mother. Then there’s the lifetime of scandalous press coverage that blighted his time as prince and divided the public. But despite what you think of King Charles, he remains, according to Australia’s Constitution, our head of state. It’s not up to our State premiers to decide to become a republic. It’s up to the Australian public. And despite the social media chatter and online petitions, they have not voted to ditch the monarchy. In fact, many still support them. I stood among the crowds at Kings Park during Charles and Camilla’s visit to Australia in 2015. But even then, at least 1000 people gave up their Sunday in the searing heat that November to catch a glimpse of the royal couple. “Welcome to Perth” signs hung in shop and pub windows, and there were only cheers as they sauntered through the botanic gardens, joking about how we should all be “having picnics” rather than waiting to shake their hands. Camilla was equally charming and there wasn’t a single sour face as the couple worked the crowd. If the Australian public didn’t warm towards Charles and Camilla during that visit, you could have fooled me. Yes, the public sentiment since Queen Elizabeth’s death may have shifted but when the couple visit the Eastern States this week, I’d put money on a similarly warm reception from the public. Our premiers may think they’re reading the room by snubbing the King and Queen’s visit Down Under. But until the public decides to support a republic in a referendum, it’s our leaders’ job to represent us by offering an extended hand to our head of state.