I have been in Sydney this week, but even in such a self-absorbed city like Sydney it has been hard to ignore the news of Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British (and Australian) throne, and his long-time mistress Camilla Parker-Bowles engagement. The Sydney papers, much like the Melbourne ones, and every other around the country feasted on the news, devoting page after page on the engagement. An no doubt the women's gossip magazines will be rushing out Charles and Camilla stories for this weeks editions.
But really, who cares? I really couldn't give a toss. I don't find it particularly relevant to anything we do here in Australia. Get married. All the best. Cheers! I couldn't care less.
But, The Australian Republican Movement care. They have been lying dormant for a while now, but are expecting a surge in support that is feeding off the spectre of Queen Camilla:
"We've got the phone ringing off the hook," ARM director Allison Henry told AAP.
Ms Henry could not say how many new members the 4,000-strong organisation had attracted since the wedding announcement, but said her e-mail inbox was full.
Some of those e-mails were from "closet republicans" for whom the prince's marriage plans were the "last straw", she said.
It seems as though the idea of a Queen Camilla is a bit hard to swallow for some. But the Palace has been quick to point out that Camilla would not become either Princess of Wales or Queen, but would be known as Duchess of Cornwall (Charles, as the monarch's eldest son, is automatically Duke of Cornwall) and, after her husband's accession, Princess Consort).
What nonsense that is though. If you marry the King, you are the Queen. Full Stop. Of course she can call herself the Duchess of Cornwall, or whatever she likes, but she is still the Queen
I reckon that when Charles actually succeeds to the throne, all this half-pregnant stuff will be forgotten and Camilla will be acclaimed and duly crowned as Queen. The palace is just playing it safe, concerned to make sure that it stays ahead of public opinion: the first stage was making the relationship public, now the marriage, and full status for Camilla will be the final step.
But with any luck, Australia will have made the transition to a republic before the foolish and untrustworthy Charles and his bride-to-be Camilla reach the throne.
My recent short trip to Oz only confirmed to me the absurdity of you guys having a British royal family.
Mind you it's absurd for us to Brits to have a Royal Family yet, in some mad way it seems to work, despite all the criticism. But this concept can't really stretch to the other side of the world.
(For what it's worth, I don't care to join in all the sniping at Charles for being made of flesh and blood like the rest of us.)
So go Republican of course, I'm sure it will be better for everyone all round.
Posted by: Johnnie Moore | Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 02:27 AM