King Charles will 'inevitably' be axed as Aussie head of state, warns diplomat

03 April 2023 , 00:23

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Charles and Camilla during a royal tour of Australia in 2012 (Image: Getty Images)

A top diplomat has warned it is "inevitable" that Australia will abolish the monarchy and King Charles as head of state.

As well as the UK, Charles is head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms including Australia; Canada; Grenada; Jamaica; New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Debate continues in the 14 realms after Barbados became a republic in November 2021, replacing the monarch with a president.

Now, just weeks before the Coronation, Australia's new high commissioner Stephen Smith says Aussies have respect for the monarchy.

But the republican says despite "affection" for the institution, he believes the monarchy will be scrapped Down Under.

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Charles leaves Darwin during a 2018 tour (Getty Images)

Mr Smith, who recently moved to London in his new role, told the Times: "My personal view is it’s inevitable. But how that’s progressed is entirely a matter for the Australian government of the day."

He added: "There is a lot of affection and respect for the monarchy in Australia. That affection and respect hasn’t gone away because of Australia contemplating from time to time what it should do about its constitutional arrangements.”

Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend the Coronation on May 6.

Following the Queen's death in September 2022, Mr Albanese, whose Labor government is dominated by republicans, said it was not the time to discuss the country becoming a republic but didn't rule out a future referendum on the issue.

Australian voters chose to keep the British monarch as the head of state in a 1999 referendum.

In February, the Australian central bank announced King Charles will not feature on the new $5 note.

The bank plans to replace a portrait of the late Queen on the $5 note with Aboriginal artwork.

It comes as plans are well underway for the Coronation, which will see Camilla crowned as Queen Consort alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey.

The whole Royal Family are expected to attend alongside charity leaders, foreign heads of state, representatives of different faiths and members of the public.

Katie Mansfield