Letter to King Charles to request a meeting during his visit

Tuesday 5 December 2023

Dear Sir,

Australia is one of the proudest and most successful multicultural nations in the world – a nation built on 65,000 years of Indigenous culture, over 230 years of European settlement, British institutions, and opening our hearts to over 270 nationalities from around the world. These pillars have created today’s Australia.

As I am sure you are aware, a growing majority of Australians support an Australian taking on the role of Australia’s Head of State. We consider a republic an acknowledgement of the important contribution of the royal family in our history. Australia and Britain will always remain the closest of friends, many Australians will continue to respect the British Monarchy and no doubt Australia will always be the strongest of allies to the British people.

Just as you advocate strongly for Britain, British industry and the British people, an Australian as our Head of State would be able to promote Australian industry and trade, safeguard our Constitution, command our military, encourage people to visit and hold events in Australia and handle a multitude of official overseas visits, leaving the Prime Minster to primarily focus on domestic policy issues, like fixing the cost of living.

A republic would mean Australia has a Head of State elected by our people, accountable to our people, fully committed only to our people and working full-time in the best interests of our people.

It is only fair for Australia to stand on equal footing with other nations and our own local Head of State would give us that equal representation on the world stage. A republic would also be the opportunity to update our Constitution to ensure our officials and officeholders swear allegiance to Australia, our laws and Constitution, and exclusively to the Australian people and their best interests.

While this is of course a matter for our fellow Aussies, it is likely Australia would choose to remain in the Commonwealth of Nations simply with our own Head of State as 41 of the other 56 nations in the Commonwealth have done.

There have been media reports claiming that you are planning a visit to Australia in October 2024. We are writing to request a meeting with you during the visit. We note your comments at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda last year, stating that constitutional change should occur calmly and without rancour. We certainly agree and it is our hope that collectively we can discuss Australia’s future Head of State and how we can amicably manage the transition.

We would also ask that you consider publicly supporting the will of the Australian people and their desires to move to a republic on your visit – noting of course our enduring friendship.

In the interim, if you would like to discuss this matter or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

May we repeat, Australians will always be the very best of friends with the British people and we look forward to your visit.

Kind Regards

Nova Peris, Co-Chair
Craig Foster Co-Chair
Isaac Jeffrey, National Director and CEO

Australian Republic Movement