According to an opinion poll conducted in January, 52 per cent of Australians want their country to become a republic if Charlie Windsor replaces his mother as hereditary head of state. At present only 34 per cent favour a republic. Twenty nine per cent of those polled were prepared to allow Mr. Windsor to take over.
Australians, like Britons, are forbidden by their constitution from choosing their head of state. The Australian Labour Party has promised a referendum on whether this feudal arrangement should be abolished.