Former prime minister suggests royal family ‘would have been so glad’ if 1999 referendum on becoming a republic succeeded

Former Australian prime minister Paul Keating has speculated that King Charles could renounce the UK’s claim on Australia because the royal family hoped that Australia would become a republic after the referendum in 1999.

The former Labor leader says he discussed his ambition for Australia to become a republic with Queen Elizabeth during a private exchange at Balmoral in 1993. He says he told the Queen he would “not involve her family” in his campaigning for an Australian head of state.

Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

Continue reading…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

The Guardian view on Republican extremism: Trumpism flourishes | Editorial

Some of the party’s elite may be belatedly awakening to the costs…

Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli wins designer of the year at Fashion Awards

Accolade presented by Florence Pugh at London ceremony that Balenciaga creative head…