Despite the royal mania reached fever pitch in Australia recent days, 52 percent of Australians would like to become a republic, Daily Mail reported.
On Tuesday, the ‘charismatic young royals’ arrived in Sydney, Prince Harry and Meghan were more than warmly welcomed by thousands of mask-wearing, flag-waving fans jostled outside the Opera House. The Australians of all ages were trying to catch a glimpse of the British royals. According to The chair of Australian Republic Movement, Peter FitzSimons, duke and duchess will still be welcome even if Australia becomes a republic.
‘The @AusRepublic movement going fine! The visiting royals doesn’t change that remotely. Watch this space,’ he tweeted.
A new poll released on Monday backed up that claim, showing 52 per cent of Australians support the country becoming a republic, with only 22 per cent supporting the monarchy. Despite the hysteric welcoming the royals, the reason the royals are popular is not that they are members of the constitutional monarchy but because they are tiara-wearing celebrities who have extravagant weddings.
In other words, support for dropping the British monarch as Australia’s head of state was strongest among those aged 25 to 34, while those aged over 65 were happiest to keep on with the status quo, the poll by ResearchNow found.
According to Dr Giselle Bastin, a royal expert at Flinders University in South Australia, the young royals’ social activism was what gained them support among the younger generation who are not loyal to the monarchy. The young Australian people might be a bit indifferent about where royalty sits in terms of our constitution. Both Harry and Meghan champion the environment, education, public health and indigenous rights – while Meghan is renowned for her ardent feminism.
‘In some ways it suggests to me that the royals have gone beyond constitutional monarchy. They have certain interests and you’ll find those interests are ones that align with many young people’s interests… they engage the hearts and minds of the young,’
Dr Giselle said.
