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Young Australia’s choice: royal soap opera or republic

Tina Tek

by Tina Tek

22 Jan 05:30am

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Filed under: Monarchy, Politics, Prince William, Republic, Republicanism

25 comments

The last time I thought about an Australian republic was in 1999. I was 12 years old and too busy thinking about how hot Prince William was to really care about the republican movement.

Bold and the Beautiful? Prince William with Kate Middleton / File

Eleven years later, Prince William arrives in Australia. The only time I come into contact with the Royal Family is seeing Willy’s grandma on the $5 note and her head on all the Aussie coins. While I’m interested in the republic v monarchy debate, the dramas of the Royal Family appeals to me even more.

There was a time where the Royal Family were treated with near-universal respect. Now? The walls behind Buckingham Palace are producing scandals the writers of The Bold and the Beautiful wish they could come up with. The Queen must feel a twinge of nostalgia on the days where the family’s dirty laundry wasn’t aired to the press.

From Prince Harry wearing a Nazi armband to a party, to Prince Charlie’s affair with Camilla, to Willy’s grandpa who’s notorious for putting his foot in his mouth, the British royals haven’t been a model of honour, dignity and honesty. It isn’t a family model many Australians uphold.

However, it is an outstanding model for the greatest soapie ever produced. While I was preoccupied with Prince William’s looks when I was 12, I did pay attention to class and I believe the formula of a soapie goes something like this:

1. Drama: This is the essence of a soapie. We have our protagonists who’ll constantly put themselves on the line to save the world. We have our antagonists who make other people’s lives in the show a misery. Camilla Parker Bowles, I’m talking to you.

2. Secrets: Another essential element in soapies – where secrets about a character may be revealed at any given time. For example, questions remain about Diana’s death.

3. Twists and turns: You must expect the unexpected. That’s what makes soapies addictive to watch. With many soapies, secrets lie dormant and may not be revealed until a certain set of episodes where something you may have been wondering about will be suddenly explained. This keeps viewers on their toes.

4. Conclusion: They do occur in soapies, but not often. It usually takes a season before things finally come to an end.

With Princess Beatrice threatening to take Prince Harry’s title of “the party animal of the Royal Family” or on the rare occasions Prince William talks about his mother’s death, you’ve got to wonder why no-one’s thought about basing a soap opera on the British royal family. It could possibly win a Logie too. In fact, I shall write the script, produce it and direct it. It’ll be called…

You know what? I’ll keep it in the bag.

I asked some peers for their views on the royals and the Republican v Monarchy debate. Here’s what they had to say.

Louise, 21
In regards to the royal family, none of them have that spirit Princess Diana had. Even with Prince William currently in Australia, the news all try to rekindle that magic by saying he’s as compassionate and looks like his mother. But it’s just not the same.

Personally, I feel the scandals of the royal family override any of the supposed good deeds they’ve done. For that reason alone, the British monarchy no longer benefits Australia.

Natalie, 25
In regards to the royal family, they’re a contradictory bunch. While they preach about high morals, the way the family conducted themselves is far from moral. A good example is the amount of affairs going on in the family.

We don’t need them to represent Australia; we’re fine on our own.

Michael, 22
I don’t know anything about the royal family. I don’t care about the Queen. Why do we care about them anyway?

Ji, 23
The British royal family is symbolic of Australia’s inseparable historical link with the United Kingdom. As long as Australia remains a Commonwealth nation, the affairs of the royal family would always feature in the Australian media.

However in some respects, the royal family is given more attention than it deserves. All the negative and immoral circumstances which occur in the British royal family tend to be left largely uncriticised. Due to an overall perception that the royal family is a lineage that is historically significant as symbolising the Britain’s stance as one of the world’s most powerful nations.

I believe that Australia should become a republic. It is true Australia maintains strong ties with the UK, but such ties are largely symbolic in nature. It is time for Australia to emerge as a constitutionally independent nation, separate from the royal family influence.

Peter, 23
Monarchy or republic, it’s all a joke for me.

As for the royal family? Their antics make me laugh.

Alex, 20
Australia doesn’t really ‘need’ a republic. I wouldn’t be against it if it was to happen, but I probably wouldn’t be for it either. I’d be split down the middle. I don’t have a strong opinion on it. At the moment, I like the way our political system is shaped with the House of Representatives and the Senate. If we were to become a republic and have a President, I don’t think I’d like the way politics worked. On the other hand, I can see positives in becoming a republic like the fact that we’d be independent and wouldn’t have to have England “looking over our shoulder” constantly.

With the Royal family, I like some members of it, and I dislike others. On the topic of Prince Charles & Camilla being King & Queen in the future - I wouldn’t be happy about this as I don’t believe they’ve really got everyone’s best interests at heart. Whereas if Prince William and future wife (possibly Kate Middleton) were to become the reigning monarchs, I’d be more than happy with this. I think William seems quite switched on and is carrying on his mother’s wonderful legacy.

Most commented

25 comments

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    • Dingo says:

      06:23am | 22/01/10

      Every family is a soap opera the difference
      This is the royal family and the media expose and make up everything they possibly can, I’d like to see you try and live a life under the microscope.

      Reply

    • Liz says:

      08:09am | 22/01/10

      We need a Republic,what has Britain ever done for us? It’s time we all gave it serious thought and stopped using the smokescreen of gossip about the monarchy.

    • John Florence says:

      11:33am | 22/01/10

      I hate it when I hear the words ‘what has Britain ever done for us’

      You mean except founding and populating this country, building its cities and institutions, and laying the foundations for what this country is today? And what’s more did they put up a fight when we asked them for independence? No. They happily gave us independence because they thought that they could trust Australia as an ally; a friendly nation that would retain close links with Britain, as cornerstones of democracy and freedom. And what does Australia do? It complains and it whinges about everything British; we call them poms and insult them whenever they come to our country. We bemoan everything that is remotely British. Oh we still have a Union Jack in our flag; what have they ever done for us!? Oh we still have the monarchy; what have they ever done for us!? It’s a pathetic response to the inferiority complex that we Australians still have. The Canadians and New Zealanders have been able to deal with it; but we still throw our rattles out of our pram like an ungrateful child.

      This country wouldn’t even exist without Britain. Show them some respect.

    • Ricky says:

      02:49pm | 23/01/10

      Liz says ‘what has England ever done for us?‘You are kidding right? or your an idiot.England provided the basis for the government & freedoms people like yourself take for granted.The systems that have made Australia into such a great nation can be laid at the feet of England.Deniers of this are fools.I am sixth generation Australian & i am proud of the shared history we have with Britain.

    • Nick says:

      08:12am | 22/01/10

      This is a pervasive myth; that the British royal family was somehow scandal-free until the last few decades. It’s patently false to anyone who bothers to study a bit of history. Royal scandals are a rich 1000-year-old (at least) English tradition. The abdication in 1936 is the most obvious recent one. Edward II was notoriously unfaithful to his beautiful, deaf wife. Queen Victoria victimised one of her ladies-in-waiting for a suspected pregnancy which was later discovered to be cancer. The incredibly dense William IV was nicknamed ‘Silly Billy’ and had a habit of spitting in public. I could go on… take the all time greatest royal scandal - Henry VIII. None of these modern Windsor kerfuffles hold a candle to what he got up to. ‘Near universal respect’ has been the exception, not the rule.

      Reply

    • Dingo says:

      08:40am | 22/01/10

      Liz - I believe we should look at becomming a republic.
      However we should still respect the History of Australia and the involvment of the British.
      What time frame are you referring to? recent history last 10 years? I think you might be forgetting a bit of history - first fleet, captain james cook, mathew flinders, william hovell, should I go on.

      Reply

    • Adam Humphries says:

      09:06am | 22/01/10

      I’m all for a republic. However if we must have a Royal Head of State we should go for the younger brother ( I think its Harry?).
      Hear me out, He’s led men in battle so understands tough decisions and the consequences thereof, He seems to really like a drink and making a goose of himself ( very Ausie indeed) and he’s a bloodnut! Rangas are always good for a laugh

      Reply

    • Spielberg's Apprentice!! says:

      09:18am | 22/01/10

      I can see the good case for a Republic, but I can also see a good case for staying a monarchy too. So I am undecided….still.

      When & if the question is asked about what the people want I hope i make the right decision. However scandals of who our ‘figurehead’s” rellies will not factor in my decision, after all enough of our actual political leaders have plenty of soap opera scandals…..

      - John Della Bosca shagging his little tart in his office,
      His wife Belinda Neal abusing Restaurant Staff at Iguana Joes
      - Belinda Neal also calling Sophie Mirabella’s unborn kid a spawn of satan or something,
      - Kevin throwing hissy fits over hair dryers and plane food,
      - UTEGATE earlier this year
      - Chair sniffing in parliament.
      - Cheryl Kernot & Gareth Evans affair
      - And I hate to think at what the Michael McGuirk murder will turn up!!

      After your done with the Royal family script maube you can start on Aussie an Aussie Pollie soap

      Reply

    • Mick says:

      01:08pm | 22/01/10

      Fair call

    • Dave says:

      09:20am | 22/01/10

      This is serious and deep question…not a reality show!!

      A republic is a form of government in which the head of state is not a monarch and the people have an impact on its government.

      It might sound like formality but having Head of State a foreigner living on the other side of the world is proof that we are politically still not mature.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      10:23am | 22/01/10

      In the intellectually shallow discourse that passes for public debate on the constitutional future of our nation I’m frankly surprised that no one has suggested we simply switch monarchs to Denmark and lock in an Aussie Queen.

      Reply

    • T.Chong says:

      11:10am | 22/01/10

      SuperD “our Aussie Queen” Mary has ditched her Australian citizenship. She is no longer one of “us”.  Just goes to show what her loyalties are.
      BTW, anyone, does someone who marries into a royal family also become one of a gods chosen people, with divine wisdom and all?

      Reply

    • Adam Humphries says:

      11:42am | 22/01/10

      That depends mate,

      visit hospitals, look soulfull and die youngish then absolutely
      act a bit common, have your toes sucked by a pool and stay alive then most deffinately not

    • Albie says:

      12:18pm | 22/01/10

      “Queen must feel a twinge of nostalgia on the days where the family’s dirty laundry wasn’t aired to the press.”

      What a short memory we have - what about the upheaval when Edward VIII abdicated to marry an AMERICAN DIVORCEE in the 1930s? I’m sure that wasn’t without comment… Just because it didn’t happen in the days of NewsCorp and Twitter doesn’t mean that the laundry wasn’t aired… I would suspect, actually, that the Royals practically invented the whole idea of celebrity, so much were they the focus for the population!

      Reply

    • Chris says:

      01:27pm | 22/01/10

      This country needs something to remind us where we came from, the explosion of overseas immigrants is clouding our heritage, keep them there before we are over run with multicultural blindness

      Reply

    • RB says:

      02:53pm | 23/01/10

      Well said chris.Spot on.

    • GT says:

      01:47pm | 22/01/10

      Well, in the 1930s the British press was forbidden to print anything about Edward VII’s royal affair….so it WAS without comment for most of the great unwashed..

      Still, I have to agree that the Royal Family’s scandals mostly pale into insignificance when compared with those of Australian (and other) politicians…

      Reply

    • aussiebrisguy says:

      05:53pm | 22/01/10

      You’re not wrong. The Queen has been a classic example of a job well done. Prince William will also be very good. Compare The Queen to most of our corrupt and useless money grubbing politicians and most Australia’s would run a mile from any sort of republic. We don’t need another politician, we need an impartial head of state. That’s what we’ve got. Be proud of it and stop the hot air rubbish and concentrate on real issues like unemployment, health care, infrastructure, education. Wake up Australia!

    • Bruce says:

      07:04pm | 22/01/10

      GT. agree. Try out the “Kennedy’s” ....wow, its more than a soap, more like underbelly.

    • aussiebrisguy says:

      09:27pm | 22/01/10

      Yes the Kennedys ... the family who made their monies out of illegal bootlegging during the prohibition era .. it makes very ugly reading .. also read how Jackie was paid by her father-in-law to stay married to JFK before he became President .. the list goes on .. who on earth would want that here in Australia?

      The biggest joke is that all of us would have the chance to be President. What for a second in our lives? Please do they all think we are as challenged as they must be to accept such rubbish?

      Reply

    • Barry says:

      09:41pm | 22/01/10

      There is a very good reason for keeping the current system but unfortunetly even most Monarchists don’t seem to identify it.

      The role of the Royals/GG’s is ultimaly to intervene when the Australian People get it wrong.
      Simply put, the Monarchy gives Australia a final fail-safe that can stop us going down a potentially dark path.

      The GG or President’s primary purpose is to ensure the PM doesn’t go off the rails but in either case, especially with a direct-elect President, they are still in australia, caught up with events and potentially ‘unable to see the forest for the trees.’

      What we need is a last line of defence, someone who is external to daily Australian politics, unlikely to bend to political influence but still retaining a good understanding of our system of government. The Monarchy fits this bill perfectly, and they are also the most qualified having spent their entire lives preparing for this post.


      Worrying who the Queen supports in the Ashes is a load of cr@p, her purpose is to stop a future Australian Hitler from marching a portion of the population off to the gas chambers in the Outback.

      Reply

    • True Blue says:

      09:42pm | 22/01/10

      There’s is no other Royal Family in this world that receives the vicious attacks relentlessly as they do. They don’t get criticised enough you say? I have never read in the press on the Royal Family’s ability to respond ill to anyone, even their enemies. Equal opportunity is not available for them. The attempted soap opera is very mild to the real world, yesteryear. Throw it in the recycle bin.This nation has been freeloading under the Crown for 200 years and while there will be those who continue to throw dummy spits and hate mail there are those that appreciate our freedom and heritage. Like a spoilt child that continues to rant and curse there is only one answer.  A wake-up call.

      Reply

    • Barry says:

      11:21pm | 22/01/10

      We’ve gone from Devoted Child to Rebellious Teenager determined to “prove” we are grown up and embarrassed to be seen with our “parents”.

      Hopefully we will eventually become a mature nation that is willing to accept that our present system is actually better than any Republic.

      Reply

    • Justin says:

      10:01am | 24/01/10

      Republicans will never win this debate as long as we make it about the Monarchy. Period.

      Australia is tangibly no worse off under a monarchy than we would be if we were to become a Republic and yes, there are problably more risks associated with becoming a republic than with sticking with the monarchy.

      What we need to do is start talking about a Republic more and about the monarchy less. We need to start conveying the message that, rather than being a petulent teenager embarrassed to be seen with it’s parents, Australia is now a diverse, mature population ready to stand on it’s own two feet and have the ultimate and final say in it’s own future direction.

      We need to start conveying the message that an Australian citizen, elected by Australians to represent Australians should have the final say. That our interests as a nation are better served by someone who is aware of the Australian way of life and the issues that affect our being on a day to day basis.

      We need to convey that, rather than pledge allegiance to HRH, Australian’s will be better served pledging allegiance to one of our own.

      We need to turn this debate on it’s head. It’s not about the monarchy. It’s about our future being in our hands.

      Reply

    • aussiebrisguy says:

      05:52pm | 28/01/10

      Justin you simply don’t get it. No one Australian could possible represent this country as they would be just another slimy politician with a great many Australians against them. Is that truly what this country needs? Grow up and respect your country and its system of government that works very well indeed and is the envy of many countries the world over. Get with it and see reality and concentrate on problems in this country like the homeless, unemployment, pension ages being raised when older Australians can work no longer, youth suicide, education, hospital systems in chaos. They are the issues that need addressing.

      Reply
 
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