'Won't stand in the way': King Charles on Australia becoming a republic nation

King Charles said that he would not stand in the way if Australia wished to become a republic and replace him as the country's head of state, according to media reports on Saturday (Oct 12). 

King’s assistant private secretary Nathan Ross told the anti-monarchists: "His majesty, as a constitutional monarch, acts on the advice of his ministers and whether Australia becomes a republic is, therefore, a matter for the Australian public to decide.”

Ahead of King's visit later this month, he is said to be adopting an "anti-confrontational approach" to Australian republican campaigners, the Daily Mail reported. 

In response to the Australian Republican Movement’s (ARM) request for a meeting with the monarch, the king’s assistant private secretary is understood to have emphasised his “deep love and affection” for Australia.

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The ARM said it is "the peak body advocating on behalf of the Australian people for an Australian republic with an Australian as our head of state”.

In 1999, Australia held a referendum on the issue of becoming a republic, in which 54.9 per cent voted against it. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said, "Australia should have an Australian as our head of state”, but recently indicated that a second referendum was not a priority.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, "Like his mother before him, it has always been the case that his majesty the King feels that it is a matter for the Australian people.”

Graham Smith, the head of the British campaign group Republic is in Australia to protest against the monarchy during King Charles' visit. He said the main reaction to his trip had been one of "indifference and disinterest". 

“I’ve been in Australia talking to friends, campaigners and others for the past two weeks. Most people are barely aware of the visit and couldn’t care less. I’m here to promote the UK campaign, to question how Charles can represent us and why he is making this very brief visit at great expense to Australian and British taxpayers," he said. 

"I’m also here to say to Australians this isn’t an institution that deserves respect or deference, and that they shouldn’t believe for a moment that the UK is a nation of royalists. I’m hoping the visit will help influence the debate in both countries and highlight the irrelevance of the monarchy," he added. 

(With inputs from agencies)