Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has been left outraged after Australian politicians were accused of being “rude” to King Charles as he embarks on his first trip Down Under as monarch.
The tour has been marred by a significant move from Australian state premiers, who have declined to attend the welcome ceremony for the King and Queen who touched down in Australia today.
Speaking to Nana Akua on GBN America, Richard Fitzwilliams said: “This is absolutely extraordinary. Australia is a monarchy, King Charles is the head of state.
“He’s undertaking an 11 day tour of Samoa and Australia, taking only one day off. And as we know, he is battling cancer.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Australia for historic tour ahead of planned protestsReuters
Fitzwilliams continued: “All the state premiers of the various Australian states have decided on one excuse after another, that they have a cabinet meeting, that they’ve got a commitment or some such, but there’s nothing especially substantial as far as I can see.”
He added: “It seems to me just rude. It’s quite extraordinary. They’re not going through the courtesies, and it’s very hard to understand why.”
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The visit comes amid ongoing discussions about Australia’s relationship with the Crown, with republican campaigners dubbing it the King’s “Farewell Oz” tour.
A recent polls show 45 per cent of Australians support keeping the monarchy, while only 33 per cent favour a republic.
The royal couple’s tour began with separate arrivals. King Charles departed from Heathrow Airport solo, whilst Queen Camilla enjoyed a private wellness retreat before joining him in Singapore.
Upon landing in Sydney, they were greeted by thundery showers and key Australian officials.
Richard Fitzwilliams said that it is a “rude” move
GBNA
Their packed schedule includes a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House and private talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Despite his ongoing cancer treatment, which he has paused for the tour, the King will undertake 36 engagements over eight days.
The couple will also head to Samoa for a state visit to further emphasise their commitment to the Commonwealth.
The King and Queen touched down in Sydney as they embark on their tour down underReuters
King Charles has reportedly told anti-monarchists he will not intervene if a vote is held to remove him as head of state
Despite the controversy, Charles and Camilla expressed enthusiasm for their trip.
They posted on social media: “Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special.”