Ex-Australian leader says Meghan and Harry interview supports cause of severing ties with British monarchy

Sydney, Australia – Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told television interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, reinforced his argument that Australia would sever its constitutional ties with the British monarchy. Turnbull met the couple in April 2018, four months before being replaced by current Prime Minister Scott Morrison in an internal power struggle.

“It’s clearly an unhappy family or at least Meghan and Harry are unhappy. It seems very sad,” Turnbull told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“After the end of the Queen’s reign, now is the time to say, Okay, we’re past that turning point. Do we really want whoever happens to be the head of state of – the King or Queen of the UK? head of state? ”Turnbull added.

In the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said she had hoped to serve as a beacon of hope for black people everywhere, but especially in the Commonwealth countries – many of which are in Africa – signaling acceptance within the highest echelon of British society and power. .

The Duchess said she was devastated by the lack of support she received from the Royal Family as she struggled with mental health issues, and on numerous occasions both she and Harry made it clear they felt there were racial undertones to them. that treatment.

The British Commonwealth

Australia is one of just over 50 countries that, while independent, have chosen to maintain a close partnership and cooperation with the UK after the abolition of colonial rule imposed centuries ago during the reign of the British Empire .

As a member of this Commonwealth of Nations, Australia continues to recognize the British monarch as the formal head of state, although neither Queen Elizabeth II nor the British government have any real role in the administration of the former colony, which gained independence 100 years ago.

Turnbull was a leading advocate for the selection of an Australian citizen as head of state when he chaired the Australian Republican Movement from 1993 to 2000.

A referendum on Australia becoming a republic was defeated in 1999, despite polls showing that most Australians believed their country should have an Australian head of state.

Many advocates of an Australian republic want an American system in which the president is popularly elected rather than a figurehead, as proposed in 1999.

Morrison was not questioned about the royal interview at a press conference on Tuesday.