Anthony Albanese says he’ll never hold another referendum after dining with King Charles

Anthony Albanese has declared he will never hold another referendum after dining with King Charles III at the monarch’s Scottish castle.

And he said the woman he appointed Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, shows the value of the monarchy to Australia.

Mr Albanese spent the seventh day of his 10-day trip abroad flying from London to Scotland for an audience with the King and lunch at Balmoral.

Upon arriving at Royal Air Force base in Lossiemouth, Mr Albanese and his fiancée were greeted by Scottish bagpipers who played as the pair descended the prime minister’s plane.

They also visited Crathie Kirk, a church where the Royal Family attends when they stay at Balmoral.

He declared it a “great honour.”

He and Ms Haydon presented Charles and Queen Camilla with a framed photograph of their visit to Australia in October 2024. The frame was made of Australian timber.

He did not say whether they spoke about US President Donald Trump, despite Charles’ pointed advocacy of AUKUS during last week’s state visit.

But he said the monarch was very interested in world affairs and the Australian government’s views on Australian affairs.

The Member for Marickville became the first Australian leader since former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating, an ardent Republican, to be received at the monarchy’s Scottish residence.

Mr Keating later revealed that at his meeting at Balmoral in 1993, he had told Elizabeth he wanted Australia to become a Republic and that he would not involve her family in it.

But speaking on the ABC’s Insiders program from Scotland, Mr Albanese said the Republic issue was not raised at his lunch with the King.

“No. And I think I’ve made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was prime minister and we did that …. we did that,” he said, referring to the 2023 Voice to Parliament vote.

That referendum was overwhelmingly defeated by the Australian public and by a majority of voters in every state.

The loss threatened support for Labor mid-way through its first term. But the government recovered and shrugged off the mid-term malaise to post a 94-seat win in May, crushing opposition hopes that the referendum result would realign traditional Labor voters as Coalition supporters.

Mr Albanese appeared to suggest he had learnt an electoral lesson.

“We’re concentrating on cost of living and making a real practical difference to people’s lives,” the Prime Minister said.

Asked by host David Speers what value the monarchy plays in modern Australia, Mr Albanese said his chosen Governor-General Sam Mostyn was doing a “fantastic job.”

“She’s someone who is very active,” he said.

“The Royal Family, I think, are given a great deal of respect.

“Their majesties, when they visited Australia recently, King Charles and Queen Camilla were very well received.

“And I think they are respected.”

As opposition leader, Mr Albanese said an Australian Republic was likely, but that it had to be fought for.

“I still see an Australian Republic as likely, as long as it’s fought for,” Mr Albanese said in 2019.

“There is, I feel, a general recognition that our Constitution was designed to be enduring, but not unchanging.

“And that is what gives me hope we will get there on the Republic, and that eventually, our head of state will be one of our own.”

But on Sunday he said he supported the 1999 result and institutions.

But he said the King knew him to be a Republican.

“He is fully aware that I support an Australian as our Head of State,” Mr Albanese said.

“But I also support the decisions that have been made and our system of government.

“And I think that’s important. If you look at the way I conduct myself, I always support the institutions which are there.

“I think that’s important as Australia’s prime minister.”

The 1999 referendum was defeated partly because Republicans could not agree on whether to directly elect the Head of State or have the figure appointed by politicians.