Separate the Crown?

For a long time I resisted this idea, and at heart I still believe in the shared Commonwealth Crown (after all I live in Texas and have no problem considering myself loyal to King Charles III, but I'm weird), but recent events have forced me to consider whether a monarch descended from the previous sovereigns but who actually lived in Ottawa might be able to serve Canadian loyalism better (with the same idea applied to Canberra and Wellington). Perhaps Princess Charlotte could take Canada (the senior Dominion), Prince Louis Australia, and one of Prince Edward's children New Zealand? The UK would probably want to keep one or two "spares" around though until such time as Prince George marries and has children.

I hate to say this but the Caribbean is probably a lost cause. Not sure about Papua New Guinea.

The problem is that I doubt there's enough support for this idea to be feasible, and there's no guarantee the young royals would be interested. While this is painful to me to admit, to a certain extent the monarchies of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have survived on the lazy principle of "if it ain't broke don't fix it," and the "fix" that ideological monarchists want may not be the "fix" that everyone else wants.

Australian Monarchists and their Queen

Congratulations to my friend, Australian composer and monarchist Alexander Voltz, on this excellent and emotional article on the experiences and reflections of Australian monarchists. (Warning: a disturbing passage from a vile student "newspaper" is quoted.) Other young Australian monarchists are quoted in this article, which also quotes republicans.

A new poll indicates that about 60% of Australians favour keeping the Monarchy, up from previous levels. 

In Memoriam Wilson Gavin (1998-2020)

I am in shock. It seems that one of my closest Facebook friends, Australian monarchist Wilson Gavin, was found dead this morning in Brisbane at the age of 21. It is in the news but I would prefer not to link to any article. He was an amazing person and Queen Elizabeth never had a more loyal subject. We had been friends since 2014 but had never met, but I felt that I knew him. We chatted frequently, most recently on Wednesday. Let no one ever tell you that online friendships aren't real. This one was. I am utterly devastated. I don't know his family but can only try to imagine how they must be feeling. This was his most recent Facebook profile picture. Rest in peace, beloved friend.

There is so much grief now, and yet I would not for a second be without the past 5+ years of friendship with him. I wish, bitterly, that I had made it to Australia once during that time. I couldn't go to New York during his one visit to the USA. We talked about perhaps coordinating a European trip one day. For all his love of the Queen and the Monarchy, which he firmly believed was every bit as Australian as it was British, I don't think he ever made it to the United Kingdom, though he'd been to continental Europe. ("I couldn't possibly stay so long in a republic," he replied when I asked if he was still in Greece.) But of course when one's friend is only 21 one thinks there is all the time in the world. With many of the friends I've met online via common interests, our points of view overlap, but we also argue. Wilson and I never really disagreed about anything. He was Australia's finest. I think the best way to honour him is to make sure everyone knows how remarkable he was and continue the fight to preserve Australia's constitutional monarchy forever. And if you ever find Twitter toxic, get off it. I did in April and have never missed it. While social media has undeniably had benefits, including this very friendship, it also has its deadly poisonous side. I hope one day the plague of cyber-bullying will end. I will miss you so much Wilson. You were so brave, brilliant, and fun. God Save the Queen.

Australian Anniversary

Sixteen years ago today a healthy majority of the Australian electorate wisely chose to retain their constitutional monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II which has served Australia well now for over a century and helped make it one of the best places to live in the world. Today despite smug predictions that monarchists would die out, a new generation of Australians not old enough to vote in 1999 have discovered the wisdom and appeal of their country's monarchical constitution. Yet once again the Crown is under threat, with a new republican prime minister who having toppled the excellent Tony Abbott almost immediately abolished Knights and Dames (again). As Australia welcomes its future King and Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, both major parties are now led by republicans which is a deplorable state of affairs. Hopefully this is just the last gasp of the tiresome "boomer" generation. While I'm under no delusions that the majority of Australian teens and millennials are fervent ideological monarchists, it does seem that most are simply not interested in radical constitutional change. But monarchists must be vigilant and those who have voted Liberal must punish Turnbull by withholding their support at the next election. God Save the Queen of Australia and God bless her successors Charles, William, and George!!!

Prince Philip, Australian Knight

I strongly support Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision to award an Australian knighthood to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, who has been involved with many facets of Australian life over the past six decades, and condemn the mean-spirited carping from spiteful republican ingrates who fail to appreciate how extraordinarily fortunate they are to live in a constitutional monarchy and to have an elected leader who appreciates the importance of tradition, duty, and public service. God Save the Queen of Australia and God bless Prince Philip!

Breaking Republicans' Hearts

David Flint of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy describes the republican hubris that contributed to their (hopefully permanent) defeat fifteen years ago.

The Monarchist Generation

Could the "millennials" be the first generation in quite awhile to be wiser than their parents and grandparents? Fully 60% of Australians aged 18-24 support keeping the monarchy, as do a narrow majority of Australians overall. In no age group do republicans now outnumber monarchists, though the gap is much narrower among baby boomers. God Save the Queen of Australia!

It's not hard to see why when following coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's ongoing triumphant visit to Australia, including this visit to the Blue Mountains.

Prince George and the World

HRH Prince George: the world's youngest diplomat, and ready to drive the final nail in the coffin of Australian republicanism next month.

Return of Australian Knighthoods

I'm still not quite used to there being a prominent democratically elected leader I actually like. Hooray for Tony Abbott! Excellent news from Australia, even if the first new Dame has been a disappointment due to her recent republican remarks.

The text of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement on the restoration of Knights and Dames (via Australians for Constitutional Monarchy):

On my recommendation, Her Majesty the Queen has amended the Letters Patent constituting the Order of Australia.

Knights and Dames in the Order ...of Australia will be approved by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

There may be up to four Knights or Dames created in any year.

This special recognition may be extended to Australians of “extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit” in their service to Australia or to humanity at large.

Henceforth, the serving Governor-General will be the principal Knight or Dame in the Order of Australia.

The first new Dame will be the outgoing Governor-General. 

The first new Knight will be the incoming Governor-General.

It is fitting that the Queen’s representative be so honoured.

Invariably, Governors-General have been extraordinary and pre-eminent servants of the Australian people.

My intention is that this new award will go to those who have accepted public office rather than sought it; and who can never, by virtue of the office they have held, entirely return to private life.

The Chairman of the Order of Australia Council will be consulted on any such recommendation.

This change will not affect existing Companions, Officers or Members of the Order of Australia.

I congratulate Her Excellency the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO and the Governor-General Designate, General Peter Cosgrove AC MC, on this acknowledgement of their service to our country.

25 March 2014
 

Australian Monarchists: The New Generation

I can't remember the last time a news article made me as happy as this one did. I could try to quote my favourite parts, but I'd end up practically reproducing the whole thing, though I will note that I'd have to plead guilty to being one of those monarchists who "collect memorabilia and have big portraits all over their walls." Well done to the young Australian royalists interviewed for the article, who vindicate much of what I've been saying about Monarchy and its appeal to the young since 1999, when the referendum in which they were too young to vote sustained the Australian constitution so that it might thrive in the current century. God Save the Queen of Australia!

Prince Harry in Australia

Australia's monarchist prime minister loyally welcomed the fourth in line to the Australian throne to Sydney: "I regret to say that not every Australian is a monarchist, but today everyone feels like a monarchist." Tony Abbot also introduced Prince Harry to his two thrilled daughters.

The Queen and her Abbey

Australian artist Ralph Heimans has unveiled in Canberra his striking new official portrait of the Queen at Westminster Abbey, with the sovereign apparently pausing in reflection at the very spot where she was crowned in 1953.  Having had the honour to sing services (in 2009 and 2011) in those choir stalls, I was moved by the choice of setting as well as the way Heimans has captured Her Majesty's expression and sense of place in history.  For musical Anglican monarchists, everything we believe in is represented in this beautiful painting.

Tour de force

Despite a certain incident with a French magazine, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge's tour of Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu (concluding with a brief stop in Australia) was a triumphant success, the Telegraph and Mail report.  I love these joyful videos of their welcome and departure in Tuvalu, not least because they must make leftist anti-imperialists cringe.  God bless the people of Tuvalu and their wonderful future King and Queen.

Constantine II and the Greek Financial Crisis

From an Australian think tank comes this thorough 2011 analysis of the history of the Greek monarchy and its relevance to recent events in both Greece and Australia. Writer Dr David Bennett refutes many of the republican calumnies against the Greek royal family. In particular he exhaustively demonstrates how unfair it is that the dynasty founded by George I has been smeared as tied to foreign interests when in fact they dedicated themselves completely to Greece and its interests, rather more so than many Greek politicians.

Queen Elizabeth II: Sixty Years of Service

It was on this date in 1952 that King George VI, suffering from cancer and exhausted after heroically leading Britain and its Empire through World War II, died in his sleep at Sandringham. His daughter, proclaimed Queen that day, has now reigned for sixty years as Queen Elizabeth II, only the second British monarch to reach this milestone. It is hard to come up with an original or adequately extensive tribute to add to the many being expressed today. So I will simply say that I, though alas not technically one of Elizabeth II's millions of subjects, consider myself one at heart and regard the Queen as by far the most inspiring example of public service in the world today. In six decades she has never failed to do her best to serve her various realms, which include not only the United Kingdom but also Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other smaller countries (mostly in the Caribbean) around the world. With a schedule that would wear out most people a generation younger but shows no real sign of relaxing even at the age of 85, the Queen always has a smile for everyone, with a warmth (perhaps increased in her old age) that clearly delights the innumerable people from all walks of life with whom she comes into contact.

As my own Rector Bishop Anthony Burton points out at his blog, this dedication to service as expressed in HM's new Diamond Jubilee Message is rooted in her own deep Christian faith, a faith which in this secular age she is not shy to express. Today's anniversary with its reminder of her beloved father's death is inevitably tinged with melancholy for the Queen, who observed it with a visit to a school in Norfolk among other activities. But the Diamond Jubilee Year of 2012 promises to be a joyful one, culminating in a weekend of celebrations in London in June which I for one cannot wait to attend. As sung in Benjamin Britten's superlative arrangement of Britain's National Anthem, God Save the Queen!

More pictures from Australia

Excellent photos of the Queen's recently concluded visit to Australia are available from the BBC here.

Illogical Idiocy in Perth

Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia, a smug David Cameron (with "Conservatives" like this, who needs liberals?) triumphantly announced that he had secured unanimous agreement from the prime ministers of the Queen's sixteen Commonwealth Realms to amend the law of royal succession to end male primogeniture and allow potential monarchs to marry Roman Catholics. It is amazing to me that this kind of tinkering makes any sense to anybody, since as I and others have already explained, the monarchy will remain inherently "discriminatory," favouring older siblings over younger ones, and of course members of the Royal Family over everyone else. One wonders if Cameron and other backers of "reform" have really thought through all the implications, as real conservatives like Simon Heffer have. I hate to agree with the odious Graham Smith on anything, but for once he is right: the idea that the monarchy can be reconciled with modern "non-discriminatory" thinking is absurd. At least ministers had the sense to rule out trying to apply the same kind of "reform" to hereditary peerages.

Hopefully the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge will soon have a boy as their first child to render all this silliness irrelevant for another generation. If their first child is a girl and she remains heir to the throne ahead of a younger brother, I suppose I'll have to grudgingly accept it, as I already do with Sweden, Belgium, and Norway (the three European monarchies whose royal families have already been affected by such "reforms"--it's a moot point so far in the Netherlands, where the Prince of Orange has only daughters, and in Denmark, where the Crown Prince's eldest child is a boy). Only a hardcore Jacobite, the sort who insists that Franz Duke of Bavaria is the "real" British monarch (and I think I've made it clear what I think of that nonsense), can coherently deny that Parliament has the authority to alter the succession, whether it should or not. But at heart, unlike more liberal monarchists, I am ironically inclined to agree with the republicans I so despise when they say that even a constitutional monarchy is incompatible with Modern Democratic & Egalitarian Values. We simply draw opposite conclusions: I say if that's the case, then to hell with Modern Democratic & Egalitarian Values!

Queen of Australia

Robert Hardman reflects on the depth of Australians' enthusiasm for their Queen's royal visit which has apparently surprised even monarchists. Twelve years ago Australians were told by a virtually monolithic media and political class that a republic was inevitable. It is that presumption--not the monarchy--that now seems like a relic of the past as Australians turn out in droves for their Sovereign--not a "foreign" Sovereign, but their Sovereign.

Speaking of Australia, I don't normally post on non-monarchical matters, but this article by an Australian atheist who admires the great Anglican tradition of Choral Evensong, as experienced at places such as St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, is worth reading. Frankly though a practicing Anglican and adult convert to Christianity I have more respect for people like him--who just might be closer to God than they think--than for "Christian" philistines who would modernize our cultural patrimony out of existence.

Queen in Australia

Queen Elizabeth II received a warm welcome in Canberra as she embarked on her 16th visit to Australia. A touching footnote was her meeting with Margaret Cunningham, who on the Queen's first visit in 1954 had as a child presented HM with flowers, doing so again 57 years later. For the first time in history, Australia's sovereign, governor-general, and prime minister are all female, making for a colourful assembly as the three eminent women met. While one would not expect a repeat of the extraordinary outpouring of 1954, when an estimated one third of Australia's entire population turned out to see their sovereign, clearly many Australians retain strong affection for the Queen despite the efforts of certain politicians--whose republican ambitions fortunately are widely considered an increasingly distant dream. At the Floriade flower festival, a little girl outshone the Prime Minister in courtesy to her sovereign; perhaps this child should be Prime Minister since she clearly appreciates her country's constitution more than Julia Gillard does. In any case, monarchists can take comfort in the widespread perception that republicanism, so chic in the 1990s, has fizzled out.

Prince William in Australia

Prince William has been delighting the people of allegedly republican-leaning Australia. Articles in the London Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald and this ABC News video demonstrate both his natural warmth with the crowds and his serious dedication to duty which is surely making his grandmother proud. Truly those of us who value the future of the British and Australian monarchies are tremendously fortunate in this admirable prince, more worthy than whom no elected president could possibly be.