Former Australian leader says Meghan and Harry’s interview strengthens ties to cut ties with British monarchy

Sydney, Australia Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told television interview with prince harry and meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, reinforces his argument that Australia is severing its constitutional ties with the British monarchy. Turnbull met the couple in April 2018, four months before he was replaced in an internal power struggle by current Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

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

“After the end of the Queen’s reign, it’s time for us to say, ‘OK, we’ve passed that watershed. Do we really want anyone to be the head of state – the King or Queen of the United Kingdom? our head of state? ”Turnbull added.

In the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said she hoped to serve a beacon of hope for blacks, but especially in the Commonwealth countries – many of which are in Africa – which give acceptance to British society and power. . .

The Duchess said she was devastated by the lack of support she received from the royal family because she struggled with mental health issues, and on several occasions she and Harry made it clear that they believed there was a race undertone was for the treatment.

The British Commonwealth

Australia is one of just over 50 countries that, although independent, have chosen to maintain a close partnership and co-operation with the United Kingdom after abolishing the colonial rule established centuries ago during the rule of the British Empire. has.

As a member of this British Commonwealth, Australia still recognizes the British monarch as its formal head of state, although neither Queen Elizabeth II nor the British government play a real role in the government of the former colony, which gained independence 100 years ago.

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

A referendum on Australia’s republic was defeated in 1999, despite opinion polls showing that most Australians believe their country should have an Australian head of state.

Many proponents of an Australian republic want an American system where the president is popularly elected rather than serving in a figurative role as proposed in 1999.

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