The new King’s position on climate change has been a major factor in attracting the support of people aged under 25
Young people in Australia like King Charles III because of his environmental activism and are more likely to support the British monarchy than middle-aged Australians, despite a growing republican debate in the Commonwealth country.
“When I travel around our branches the meetings are generally swamped with students,” Philip Benwell, national chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, told the Telegraph. “The 20 year-olds are well educated, highly intelligent and a lot of them are monarchists.”
Mr Benwell said the King’s position on climate change was a major factor in attracting younger members. “They support climate action and they support Charles on what he’s trying to do,” he said.
They are also too young to remember his divorce from the late Princess Diana.
“It’s encouraging that the younger generation are not anti-Charles and of course they don’t really know much about Diana, so they don’t have hang-ups about Camilla. They accept Camilla as a dutiful and loving wife to Charles.”
A rising number of young Australians have indicated their support for the monarchy, according to a national poll released earlier this year. The Ipsos survey found a 46 per cent level of support for the monarchy in the so-called Generation Z demographic, which is aged up to 25, while only 36 per cent of those aged between 30 to 49 favoured keeping the monarchy.
That flies in the face of a trend towards republicanism in the Australian government.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a known republican, this week agreed it was not a time to dwell on the republican debate. He led parliamentary and diplomatic figures in laying a wreath for the late Queen Elizabeth II at Parliament House and said she had been an “absolute inspiration”.
But his views are clear. Two years ago, he spoke of “the need for us to have an Australian head of state … the need for us to stand on our own two feet”.
That may face resistance from younger Australians.
Alessandro, 21, a student at Melbourne’s Swinburne University, said his generation did not favour the idea of having a politician running the country.
“They like the idea of stability of the monarchy,” he added.
Alessandro Rosini, acting chairman of the League’s Victorian youth branch, said he was constantly receiving messages from young people wanting to become involved.
“I attribute that to the fact that young people see our system of constitutional monarchy as something that provides stability and continuity,” he explained.
The row over republicanism is likely to grow in the coming weeks.
Outside New South Wales’ government house, which overlooks Sydney Harbour, Wendy Fitzgerald admitted it was a turning point for Australia.
“There was a push towards a republic, but with the [late] Queen no one would have made that change,” she acknowledged. “Now – maybe,” was as far as she was prepared to go.
Most Australians have chosen to avoid commenting on the issue so soon after her passing.
Adam Bandt, the Australian Greens Party leader, was accused of being disrespectful after he said on Friday: "Now Australia must move forward. We need to become a Republic."
Even the Australian Republican Movement was keeping its head down, insisting that it was more fitting for Australians “to take some time to reflect on the life and contribution of Queen Elizabeth II and pay appropriate respect to that.”
For now, the country is mourning the late Queen – and celebrating the new King.
Australian travel agencies have reportedly been booking up flights for people rushing to the UK for the funeral, while New South Wales put on free public transport to allow people to travel to Sydney to witness the “historic proclamation of His Majesty The King” outside Parliament House.
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