Australians Request Free King Charles Portraits Amid Ambivalence \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Ahead of King Charles III’s recent visit to Australia, a government policy allowing citizens to request free printed portraits of the monarch saw renewed interest. While Australia’s connection to the British royal family remains a point of debate, many Australians continue to request these portraits through their federal representatives. The demand for portraits surged following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, with more than 17,000 images of King Charles distributed since July 2023.
King Charles Portraits Offered Free to Australians Amid Renewed Interest: Quick Looks
- Free Portraits Available: Under a little-known policy, Australians can request free printed portraits of King Charles III from their local federal representative’s office.
- Surging Demand: The demand for royal portraits spiked after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, and interest continues with King Charles’ image becoming available in July 2023.
- Mixed Reactions: While some lawmakers find the requests trivial, others note genuine public interest, with some offices fielding dozens of requests when the program is publicized.
- Global Comparison: In other Commonwealth nations, such as the UK, New Zealand, and Canada, obtaining royal portraits is either limited or requires paying for postage, unlike Australia’s unique offering.
Deep Look:
Gorman told The Associated Press that several eager constituents took up the offer, dropping by his office in Perth to claim their portraits. “A number” of people showed up, he said, demonstrating that, despite growing ambivalence about the British royals as Australia’s heads of state, interest in the monarchy remains alive in some circles.
This unusual policy, which allows Australians to obtain a portrait of their monarch simply by visiting their federal representative, has existed for some time. It’s a stark contrast to similar offerings in other Commonwealth nations. In the United Kingdom, portraits of King Charles are typically reserved for institutions, and individual citizens cannot simply request one. In New Zealand, portraits of the monarch are available for digital download but not in printed form. Canadians, meanwhile, can request a printed portrait through a monarchist organization, but they must cover the cost of postage.
In Australia, however, any citizen can visit their local federal representative and ask for a printed portrait of the King—free of charge.
Surging Demand for Royal Portraits
While the policy may seem like a relic from another era, it has sparked renewed interest in recent years, particularly following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Demand for her portrait surged after her passing, with Australians keen to commemorate the monarch who had reigned for over 70 years. However, in the months following her death, there was a delay in offering portraits of King Charles III. Australian government officials had to wait nearly a year for an official portrait of the new monarch to be provided by Buckingham Palace.
That official portrait was finally supplied in July 2023, and since then, the Department of Finance has distributed over 17,000 copies of the image to lawmakers across the country. The exact number of portraits requested by the public remains unclear, but lawmakers have noted that demand spikes every time the program is publicized.
For many lawmakers, fulfilling these portrait requests can be a routine—if occasionally exasperating—task. Tim Watts, Australia’s current associate minister for foreign affairs, humorously remarked on social media in 2018 that handling requests for royal portraits was “comfortably the dumbest part of my job.” Yet despite some lighthearted criticism, many MPs acknowledge that public interest in the program remains strong.
A Nation Torn on the Royals
The availability of free portraits may seem incongruous in a country where public sentiment toward the British monarchy is becoming more complicated. Australia is part of the Commonwealth, and its head of state is the British monarch, but there has been a growing movement advocating for the country to become a republic. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, for example, is a known supporter of Australia eventually severing its constitutional ties with the British crown, though he has said that pursuing a republic is not a priority during his current term.
This ambivalence toward the monarchy doesn’t seem to dampen interest in the portraits, however. In fact, for some, the tradition of requesting a portrait of the King or Queen has become a unique part of Australia’s cultural relationship with the monarchy—a mix of reverence, irony, and curiosity.
Global Comparison of Royal Portraits
Australia’s generous policy stands in stark contrast to how other Commonwealth nations handle requests for royal portraits. In the United Kingdom, for example, institutions such as schools or public buildings can apply for a portrait of King Charles III, but individuals are not eligible to receive one. In New Zealand, citizens can download digital versions of the portrait, but printed copies are not available for free. In Canada, residents can request a printed portrait of the monarch, but they must pay for shipping, with distribution overseen by a monarchist organization rather than a government office.
These global variations make Australia’s policy particularly unique, as it offers citizens the rare opportunity to claim a physical memento of the reigning monarch without incurring any cost.
Looking Ahead
While Australia’s relationship with the British monarchy may evolve in the coming years, for now, the practice of offering free portraits of King Charles III remains a tangible reminder of the country’s historical ties to the royal family. As more Australians become aware of this program, it is likely that demand will continue to rise, whether out of genuine admiration for the monarchy or a more lighthearted embrace of an enduring tradition.
For now, lawmakers like Patrick Gorman and his colleagues will continue to fulfill these requests, keeping alive one of Australia’s quirkiest government policies in a country increasingly divided on its future role within the Commonwealth.
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