History
Queen ‘orders’ Gillard to make Australia a republic
In a private meeting yesterday (Fri), did Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ask Prime Minister Julia Gillard not to wait until the 85 year old monarch dies to convert Australia to a Republic?
According to a Labor Party source, she did: “Her Majesty was firm and polite and made it clear to Prime Minister Gillard that she would not take it as a personal affront and that she quite understood that the time had come for Australia to become a Republic. “It was the nearest thing to an Order that Her Majesty could make.”
The Queen apparently made it clear that an Australian Republic would in no way impair the affection and special relationship enjoyed between the two countries.
I understand that the Queen has asked Prime Minister Gillard to refrain from publicly discussing the matter until after she returns to Australia, so as not to overshadow the Royal Wedding or Honeymoon or to trigger political and media wars whilst Ms Gillard was still on the soil of the ‘scepter’d isle’
It is understood that the Prime Minister has agreed to this request.
It is understood that the Prime Minister will first meet with a small group of trusted advisors (might be hard to find) and only then call a special caucus meeting to discuss a plan of action before making any public announcement.
It is understood that Prime Minister Gillard had earlier (the day before) been briefed, first by British Prime Minister David Cameron at No 10 Downing St and then by Prince Charles at Clarence House.
In an extraordinary departure from scheduled protocols, Prime Minister Gillard was summoned to Buckingham Palace for a private audience with the Queen — ostensibly to discuss her launch of October’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth.
Whilst CHOGM was certainly discussed, it was by no means the sole topic.
It is understood that the Queen’s advisors are concerned that the goodwill and affection generated by Prince William’s recent Australian visit and The Royal Wedding will dissipate in the continuing argy bargy and sniping between monarchists and republicans in Australia and England itself.
The visit by the now married Duke of Cambridge was a deliberate strategy virtually on the eve of the popular Prince’s nuptials, to assess current Australian public reaction towards him and to determine whether ‘he is seen more as Diana’s son than Charles’ heir’.
The visit was a public relations coup for Prince William, the Monarchy and Monarchists.
The personable and handsome Prince, a search and rescue chopper pilot (the Duchess of Cambridge also has a pilot’s licence) has a great talent, like his late mother, for making people feel comfortable. He has a reputation for literally ‘bogging in’ (cleaning lavatories) and not behaving like an upper class twit or ponce.
It is understood that the Queen is also losing patience with Australia vacillating on the Republican issue and irritated at being treated more as a senile and benign grandmother rather than the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen of Australia (since 1953) and Head of State.
Her Majesty has made it quite clear that she is reconciled with Australia becoming a Republic.
Read the rest of the article, HERE
Also on Independent Australia:
• The Elitist Monarchy does not stand up to scrutiny