End of Royal Visit

Charles and Camilla jet out after a low-key inspection of the colony reputed to have cost taxpayers $500,000, probably a modest estimate of the true costs. Similar to their 2012 visit, they attended highly stage-managed events indulging their interests and mixing with people like themselves. Crowds were very small indeed. It was not edifying to see primary school children bussed to vantage points behind crowd-control fences in South Australia, waving flags with prominent Union Jacks. There were two rest days without public engagements after Sydney on 11 November where the royal pair were sprung pottering around the pool in their cozzies by paparazzi. Then the final two days in Western Australia were completely overshadowed by the events in Paris. While our Head of State sent a short condolence note of two sentences to the French president, her son and our next King, made a public statement about the bombings beachside in Perth, that looked and sounded slightly out of place. Our republican Prime Minister is to be congratulated for keeping his engagement with the royals to the minimum and making no visible fuss of them, leaving for a trip to Indonesia in the middle of their stay. This made a refreshing change after Tony Abbott’s over-the-top treatment of royal visitors and gushing statements of praise and deference. The concept of royal visits continues to be worthy of deep reflection. They are cringeworthy.