Anthony Albanese has seen King Charles III before his coronation, making him one of the first world leaders to do so. The prime minister has said he will swear an oath of fealty to the monarch.
Albanese, a fervent republican, expressed his desire for Australia to have its own head of state in an interview with Sky News Australia with Piers Morgan that was aired early on Wednesday (AEDT).
He declared, “I believe Australians should have their own head of state, and I believe that head of state should be nominated.
“There ought to be a procedure through which our democratically elected institutions, particularly the Senate and House of Representatives have a say in that.
The inability to reach consensus on a course of action is “one of the things that has slowed down that change in Australia.”
Morgan tweeted in the days before the interview that Albanese will swear allegiance to King Charles III during the coronation service on Saturday at Westminster Abbey.
One of the first world leaders to arrive in London for the coronation was the Australian prime minister, who had a private encounter with the monarch on Tuesday (AEDT).
The two last interacted when Albanese visited the burial of Queen Elizabeth II in the UK last year.
It was a delight to re-connect with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, and Albanese wrote that it was an honour to represent Australia at his coronation.
The King and Queen Camilla were formally invited by the PM to visit Australia at a suitable time.
In the interview, Albanese had disclosed that he would swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III on Saturday during the coronation service at Westminster Abbey.
Australians and people from other Commonwealth nations will be invited to participate actively in such a celebration, breaking with royal precedent.
