in Australia as in Canada, increasingly distant links with the British monarchy

Charles III is in Paris on Wednesday September 20. A three-day official visit which aims to celebrate Franco-British friendship. In the former English colonies, support for the monarchy is increasingly rare. Because the sovereign is not only king of England but also of 14 Commonwealth countries ranging from Canada to Australia.

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In Canada, MPs no longer swear allegiance to the king

Since last December, the newly elected deputies no longer swear allegiance to the king to sit in the Quebec National Assembly. A small revolution in a country where even citizens swear loyalty to the British Crown by becoming Canadian. Now, Quebec law removes this obligation, an initiative that also appeals to several deputies in the central Parliament in Canada.

This detachment towards the British sovereign is also illustrated in the polls. In the latest survey, half of Canadians believe that the monarchy no longer has its place in the country, that it is a completely outdated concept in the 21st century. An opinion that more and more people share. Except perhaps the members of indigenous communities, in other words the Amerindians and the Inuit who hope that the sovereign of Canada could play a political role to obtain land restitution or a sharing of natural resources.

In Australia, some want a Republic

In Australia, Charles III is the head of the country, and that sounds pretty absurd to most locals, with a few exceptions. The role of the monarch is weak, if not non-existent, and the king is nowhere near as well-liked as his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. But Australians’ disinterest in the royal family could almost seem mutual. A year after the death of the queen, King Charles III has still not come to the island continent.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a long-time supporter of the idea of ​​a Republic. Shortly after his election in May 2022, he also appointed a minister for the Republic. The idea is taking up more and more space in Australian minds. In April a poll showed that 60% of citizens would prefer to choose an Australian to lead the country rather than keep Charles III as king. For several experts interviewed on the subject, a referendum to make Australia a Republic could take place within the next ten years. A first referendum on this subject had already been organized in 1999, and it led to the maintenance of the current system.