Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to pledge the oath of allegiance to King Charles at his coronation tomorrow, as hopes reignite of an Australian tour by Prince William and Princess Kate.
Last week it was announced that at the coronation the Archbishop of Canterbury would ask “all who desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere (to) say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
Despite being a life-long Republican, Albanese said he intended to “follow protocol” at the historic ceremony, and compared taking the optional oath to being sworn into the Australian Parliament.
“As the Australian prime minister, people expect me to not come to the King’s coronation in order to create a controversy,” he told the ABC.
“As a Republican, I think at some stage (Australia’s constitutional arrangements) will change when Australia is ready for that, but it’s not up to me as prime minister to impose my position on Australia.”
The prime minister continued rubbing shoulders with royalty yesterday as he sat down with heir to the throne, Prince William at Kensington Palace.
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He told the prince that he and other members of the royal family were welcome to visit Australia at a time of their choosing.
Earlier on Thursday, the Prince and his wife Kate had taken their first trip on the Elizabeth Line of London’s Underground, named after William’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth.
“We’ve had some good times in Sydney. We’ll be back soon,” Prince William said.
King Charles meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
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