Activists sell 'farewell tour' merch before King's visit

In Sydney, Australia, a group known as the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) has launched a campaign that humorously brands King Charles's upcoming visit as the 'farewell tour' of the British monarchy. This campaign includes a collection of merchandise, such as t-shirts that read 'Monarchy the farewell Oz tour' and 'Let's wave goodbye to Royal reign! ' The shirts feature edited images of King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William, all wearing sunglasses, which adds a light-hearted touch to the serious topic of monarchy versus republicanism. The ARM's goal is to spark discussions about the relevance of the Crown in contemporary Australia. However, this campaign has drawn criticism from monarchists who find it offensive. The royal visit, scheduled from October 18 to 26, marks the first time a member of the royal family has visited Australia in over a decade and is significant as it is King Charles's longest trip since his cancer diagnosis. This visit comes on the heels of a failed referendum last year, which has dampened the momentum for another vote on becoming a republic. In Australia, referendums are the only way to amend the constitution, and they have a high failure rate of 80%. The last referendum on this issue took place in 1999 and did not succeed, but support for a republic has been growing since then. The ARM's campaign uses satirical posters, t-shirts, beer coasters, and other items to depict the royal family as aging rock stars, encouraging Australians of all ages to 'wave goodbye to royal reign. ' Esther Anatolitis, Co-Chair of the ARM, stated that Australians deserve a full-time head of state who is solely committed to them, serving as a unifying symbol both at home and abroad. She emphasized that it is time for Australia to say 'thanks, but we’ve got it from here. ' The ARM also cited research indicating that 92% of Australians are either supporters of a republic or open to the idea, along with a finding that at least 40% of those surveyed were unaware that the head of state is a foreign monarch. However, independent polling presents a different perspective, suggesting that around 35% of Australians prefer to remain a constitutional monarchy. The Australian Monarchist League (AML) has criticized the ARM's polling as exaggerated and condemned the new campaign as 'terribly disrespectful' to King Charles, especially given his ongoing battle with cancer. Philip Benwell, the National Chairman of the AML, stated that King Charles should be recognized for his bravery rather than insulted. The Prime Minister of Australia, a long-time supporter of republicanism, has indicated that his government is not prioritizing a vote to break away from the British monarchy at this time. Recently, King Charles confirmed that he had exchanged letters with the ARM prior to his visit, reiterating the palace's long-standing position that it is ultimately up to Australians to determine their own future. Constitutional votes in Australia are rare and challenging to pass, requiring a 'double majority'—support from more than half of the nation overall and a majority in at least four of its six states. Out of 44 referendums held in Australia, only eight have succeeded, and nearly all of these had bipartisan support. The recent Voice referendum, which aimed to recognize First Nations people in the constitution and establish a body to advise Parliament, was overwhelmingly rejected, highlighting the difficulties faced in achieving constitutional change.