Australian Recruits start bootcamp with pledging allegiance to Her Majesty

A number of new Australian Defence Force recruits have been sworn-in at a ceremony before departing to commence their initial training.




Before they start recruit training they take the Oath of Allegiance, which is certified with a document that says:

This is to certify that XXXX having pleadged allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, Her Heirs and successors, has undertaken to loyally and faithfully serve Her Majesty as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force ...

Australian World War II Victoria Cross recipient dies

While the Sydney Morning Herald reported: "

Mr Kenna went to London for the Queen's coronation in 1953 and was presented to her when she visited the newly-restored Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in 2000. He appeared on a postage stamp in that year."

... The Age left the Monarchist part of Mr Kenna's biography unmentioned:

"Mr Kenna was born in Hamilton, in Victoria's west, in 1919 and returned there when discharged from service in December 1946.

He worked at the local council and played for the local footy team, was active in army reunions and has led Melbourne's annual Anzac Day march.

Before enlisting in the army in August 1940, he had worked as a plumber in his hometown."

Of course, both Fairfax media failed to mention that he received the Victoria Cross from HRH Prince Henry, The Duke of Gloucester, during his service as Governor-General of Australia in 1947.

This failure of leaving out what was obviously a big part of his life, makes me wonder, once more, just how much we can trust the Australian media to provide the whole story on any topic let alone the state of our Monarchy.

The solution for Afghanistan is not another term for Karzai

Western media reported today that “Hamid Karzai appears likely to win [so-called presidential elections on 20th August 2009], while at the same time being deeply unpopular”.

Mr Karzai's unpopularity and the likelihood of his victory have cast a pall of resignation over the campaign, with many Afghans preparing for another five years of a leader they feel they already know too well.

Only 31 per cent of Afghans said they would vote for Mr Karzai again, down from the 54 per cent of votes he received in the 2004 election. Only 7 per cent favoured Mr Abdullah and just 2 per cent Mr Ghani, and they are considered to be Mr Karzai's most serious rivals.

How odd, everybody knows that Hamid Karzai’s rule has been a disaster, opposition candidates are even more unpopular than the the US-installed Karzai, but opinion polls did not ask for the obvious alternative: Give the Afghan people back the Monarchy! Only the Afghan Monarchy has a chance to unite the country and keep the Taliban at bay.

Another five years of Karzai’s presidency will bring many more deaths among the Western armed forces and among the Afghan people.

It is sad to see that Western politicians have no vision to see the obvious soution.

Aussie republicans in praise of a Monarch

Both politicians have an established reputation of being staunch republicans. However, when it comes to the praise of a Monarch, Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull can choose words as if they were loyal servants of Her Majesty.

King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain paid a visit to Australia from 24th to 26th June 2009. On their arrival in Canberra the Queen's representative, Governor-General Quentin Bryce, received the royal couple at the airport in Canberra. Later that day the King and Queen were officially welcome by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd:

"Australia and Spain share more than history though. Both of our nations also bring together a modern story of democracy and development; and of contribution to international affairs.

"Your Majesties are renowned patrons of democracy, having overseen, for more than three decades, Spain’s enduring transformation into one of the world’s great democracies."

The following sentence was not included in the official transcript that was published on the prime minister's website:

"And I for one, Your Majesty, recall as a young man, your courageous efforts in those difficult time."

The Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull:

"It is a great honour to welcome Your Majesties this evening to this seat of our national parliament. I join with the prime minister on behalf of the people of Australia in welcoming His Majesty on his first visit since the bicentennial celebration in 1988.

"Her Majesty, of course, joined us as an honoured guest at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Welcome back, Ma’am.

"Tonight the presence of Their Majesties offers an opportunity to reflect on the deepening and the strengthening of the relations between two vibrant and successful modern democracies and to pay tribute to the role of the Spanish Royal Family in promoting freedom and democracy.

"Very few Kings in history could claim to have been as courageous in their defence of democracy as you have been, Sir."

Malcolm Turnbull could have added the Queen's brother's efforts to restore democracy in her home country Greece. After all, it was King Constantine who tried in a counter coup in December 1967 to oust the colonels' regime and restore democracy. His efforts failed and he paid a heavy price. He went into exile, of which he has officially not returned. And what is more, a smear campaign has blackened his image in Greece and abroad.

"As we know, His Majesty created a new history for an ancient nation in those eventful days between 1975 and 1978. Not only by reclaiming the role of Head of State after the death of General Franco, but by the relinquishing power to a parliamentarian democracy under a new constitution.

"For many of us the end of totalitarianism in Europe was marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yet in many ways, Sir, it was the advent of the Spanish democracy under your expert stewardship that helped inspire the hunger for freedom and liberty among so many peoples’ and nations’ labouring under the suffocating rule of dictatorship: Democratic elections in June 1977, the promulgation of a new constitution by 1978, ratification in a popular referendum and then subsequently signed into law in a powerful symbolic moment by the King in His parliament.

"So it was that the heir of an ancient dynasty became the father of a modern democracy.

"Only 30 years on no one thinks of Spain as other than a respected member of the community of advanced democracies, a robust and well regulated modern economy, the 9th largest in the world."

King Juan Carlos proposed the following toast:

Ladies and gentlemen,
will you please join me in a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and the people of Australia.

No republican present refused to drink to the Queen of Australia.

And one could ask, why a form of state should be abolished (in Australia) that has produced such a fabulous Monarch.

'A king cannot kill his own people.'
-
Dictators can

Iranian journalist Amir Taheri reflected the question Is Iran replaying its revolution of 30 years ago? and has some surprising answers:

"In 1979, the Shah was criticized for having violated the 1906 Constitution, notably by preventing political pluralism and imposing a one-party system. Today's movement started as a protest of the alleged rigging of the June 12 presidential election, in violation of the 1979 Constitution.

"The 1979 uprising represented an unusually broad coalition, with at least a dozen leftist groups and almost as many Islamist factions along with nationalist, social-democratic and liberal outfits.

"The same is true today. Dozens of different opposition groups -- ranging all the way from moderate Khomeinist to Monarchist -- have come together to challenge the regime under a single umbrella.

"The ruling establishment back then remained reasonably united until the very end. Even after the Shah had left the country, no key regime figure switched sides. Today, however, the ruling elite is split down the middle.

"In 1979, a majority of Iranians would probably have voted for the shah, had there been elections. Few, however, were prepared to fight for him in the streets. This time, the regime may well lose a free and fair election but still is capable of fielding large numbers of supporters who are ready to die and kill for it.

"The Shah had no stomach for bloody repression. His constant, and rather charmingly naive, motto was: 'A king cannot kill his own people.'"

His Imperial Majesty Shah Mohammad Rezā Pahlavi, Shah of Iran,
(in Farsi: محمدرضا شاه پهلوی)
(26 October 1919 in Tehran – 27 July 1980 in Cairo),
Emperor (Shahanshah = King of Kings) of Iran from 16 September 1941.

"In contrast, Khamenei has built his career as a tough street fighter. In his Friday sermon in Tehran declaring war on the opposition, he made it clear that he wouldn't shy away from a bloodbath in order to prevent regime change.

"The perception that the Shah was weak and unwilling to hit back played a crucial role in disheartening his supporters and encouraging his opponents. That perception was one reason so many of his closest aides simply fled the country at the first opportunity."

Strange behaviour

Roy Hattersley in The Guardian on 16th June 2009: “As a privy councillor I am entitled to give advice to the Queen. If she wants the monarchy to continue on its untroubled way, she should tell her son to respect the restraints of his position. … She might also point out that his reverence for all things ancient does not seem to include respect for the constitution and that republicans like me rejoice at the damage he does to the idea of monarchy."

The Guardian: “Roy Hattersley is a Guardian columnist. He served in Jim Callaghan's cabinet and later became deputy leader of the Labour party.” But he became a privy councillor in 1975 and was created a life peer in 1993 as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook. Is this a case of one Labour peer looking after the interests of another (Lord Richard Rogers)?

Why did Roy Hattersley accept to be appointed a privy councillor if “republicans like me rejoice at the damage … to the idea of monarchy"? Wasn’t it against his republican conscience to take the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty and Her heirs and successors?

I have reached the point where I don’t believe any oath any republican swears to anything. Just take a look at our republican lot. I could swear they are betraying us.

Prince Charles accused of abuse of power

Lord Richard Rogers (75), who was sacked last week from a multibillion-dollar development in London, has accused the Prince of Wales of “an abuse of power” and “unconstitutional behaviour”. The Age re-printed an article on 17th June that was published by The Guardian last week. The dispute however, is older and involves “the modernist design” for the Chelsea Barracks site in London. The 12.8-acre site is opposite the historic Royal Hospital and the proposed scheme would have built 552 flats in towers of copper, glass and concrete. Naturally Prince Charles, who takes a special interest in architecture, objected and hundreds of thousands of people did as well.

Since the Prince saw off Lord Rogers and his “monstrous carbuncle” extension to the National Gallery 25 years ago, there is no love lost between these two men. The little detail of a long standing dispute is, of course, not mentioned in The Age, because it would explain Lord Rogers’ fury.

And perhaps the audience would like to know, how much “the leading British architect” (The Age) would have earned had this project gone through. How much money out of the £3-billion-project would have found the way to Lord Rogers? His scathing attack on Prince Charles, could it be fueled by pure self-interest? How about a little bit of investigative journalism, dear Age?

Even Rupert Murdoch’s daily The Times conceded: "Lord Rogers is magnificent in his fury - but wrong. There are plenty of issues that the Prince of Wales can't touch: Gordon Brown, the constitution, Europe, the Middle East and whether the country goes to war. Architecture is not one of them.”

The problem lies deeper, as an editorial in The Sunday Herald explained:
"Massive housing and commercial developments, new superstores and roads ... such projects come before the public for scrutiny only when developers have already had cosy exploratory chats with local planners and carved up the whole deal behind the scenes. Even then, they are pushed through the so-called planning process with unseemly, and sometimes mischievous, haste. Ever noticed how public consultation plans for municipal mega-projects, with tight schedules for objecting attached, suddenly get launched on a Friday afternoon before a holiday period when no-one can be bothered to scour the council notice section of the local newspaper?

"It's no good architects coming over all democratic and squeaky clean here. With the exception of a few less ruthlessly commercial practitioners committed to working with communities, architects are in on these deals from the beginning, drawing up plans for their developer paymasters and generally schmoozing with the municipal mafia. They have a direct financial interest in seeing such projects go ahead; at least HRH doesn't."

Prince Charles told Royal Institute of British Architects as recently as on 12th May 2009: "Few people dare to speak out ... for the very good reason that if they do they find themselves abused and insulted, accused of being old-fashioned, out of touch, reactionary, anti-progress, even anti-science - as if it was some kind of unholy blasphemy to question the state of our surroundings, of our natural environment, our food security, our climate and our own human identity and meaning. Little wonder, then, that most people shy away from pointing out that the Emperor isn't actually wearing very many clothes any more." The whole speech can be read here.

So, why did The Age re-print the article? After all, if they want examples of architectural monsters and overriding democratic planning procedures, the journalists don’t have to look to London. Melbourne itself delivers lots of examples. Take a stroll through the streets and your eyes will spot one catastrophe next to the other. And unfortunately the heir to the throne does not come to our rescue.

“Unconstitutional behaviour” in Victoria
Actually, The Age ran a story on planning in Victoria. True, it was more about Victorian Planning Minister Justin "Harry" Madden, but there were discoveries, that really should let Lord Rogers see “unconstitutional behaviour”:

“ … Since the mid-2000s, and especially under Premier John Brumby, Labor has started to wind back objector and appeal rights, over-riding councils in a way that would have seemed unbelievable a decade ago.

"Last year, Madden announced that planning decisions for 27 key commercial centres — including Coburg, Frankston and Footscray — would be taken from councils and given to specially appointed development assessment committees. The program was to begin with five centres. So far this year, he has also seized planning control for 11 major housing and commercial developments, mainly in inner and middle suburbs. Among them is the large riverside industrial plot in Fairfield known as the Amcor site, the future of which was under consideration by the left and green-leaning City of Yarra.

"Other projects include the contentious proposed conversion of the Northcote Bowl into apartments, and the troubled redevelopment of Pentridge in Coburg, currently in the hands of the Labor and Greens-dominated Moreland City Council. Such actions are viewed with real suspicion in the gentrified streets of this former Labor heartland.
Last month, the Government also announced it would fast-track $3 billion in housing and education projects as part of the federal stimulus package, denying councils and residents the right to object or appeal. Under the Government's guidelines for the program, hundreds of largely private housing developments could be rubber-stamped if they contain a component of social housing. No stated minimum of social housing has been stipulated, sparking concern that it will be used as a smokescreen for poorly planned public-private development.

"Notable too is the recent ascendancy of Madden's Development Facilitation Unit. Just a few years ago, the unit was a minor office in planning, a one-man operation focused on trouble-shooting projects with problems, such as the Pentridge revamp. Now it has grown into a major part of Madden's department.

"While the minister insists he is a 'reluctant interventionist', when The Age suggests that "planning" has largely given way to ' facilitation', he says he does not apologise for that. 'The great challenges at the moment are in housing and, because of the economic circumstances at the moment, jobs,' he says. 'We're committed to delivering housing and jobs in this state. The Opposition and the Greens are anti-growth, anti-housing, and anti-jobs.'…

"An often overlooked influence on his attitude is that he is, by training, an architect. Like developers and builders, the architect's instincts are hostile to consultation with those who do not understand 'the profession' [here you have an explanation for the hatred architects show against Prince Charles]. Objections and appeals only frustrate creativity, and money-making.

"The Victorian president of the Australian Institute of Architects, Karl Fender, is a fan. 'The first thing about Justin is, he's an architect, and therefore he brings an intelligence based on his education to the portfolio ...'

"The scaling back of planning democracy is not unique to Victoria, or even Australia. Nor is it simply a response to the global financial crisis. It has been a trend across the Western world as deregulation has permeated all spheres of public policy since the 1980s. Other states are moving in the same direction, South Australia in particular. But under Brumby and Madden, Victoria is now among the national leaders in sweeping aside obstacles to development.

"But privately, some Labor insiders worry about the sidelining of councils and residents, and fear that in the drive to get billions of dollars 'out the door', projects are being called in and signed off at a dizzying pace without the usual checks and balances. Corruption flourishes in such conditions.

"Labor councillors are among a group of concerned local government figures who this week published an open letter in The Age accusing Madden of demolishing a cornerstone of Victorian planning — 'the rights of residents to have a say about their neighbourhood … The use of the economic downturn to justify the denial of these fundamental rights is short-term thinking with disastrous long-term consequences.'"

The last word should go to a letter writer of The Times:
"Who do you trust -- the builders, the MPs or Prince Charles?
The one who will not financially profit from more ugly buildings. Thank you for speaking out. Prince Charles is the voice of the people.
Mama S, Atlanta, USA

One republican
- unfortunately only one -
quits politics

Peter Costello, federal Member of Parliament for the Victorian seat of Higgins and also Her Majesty's Australian treasurer and deputy prime minister from 1996 to 2007, decided not to seek re-election at the next federal election. The republican Liberal was an outspoken supporter of the 1999 republican model of a president chosen by politicians that was rejected in a referendum by the Australian people.

That did not stop him advocating “a” republic for Australia.

His departure from politics could be good news if he were to be replaced by a new MP who supports the Australian Monarchy as it is layed out by the Constitution. However, claimants to the soon to be vacated seat include ambitious ultra-right youngsters who seek all for themselves and nothing for the people. Their republicanism can easily match that of Peter Costello.

Why is it that young politicians hardly have any loyalty except perhaps for their supporting party factions and donators/sponsors?

Dom Pedro Luiz is to be seen on the left.

Communiqué from Prince Dom Luiz on the death of Prince Pedro Luiz

Prince Dom Luiz, head of the Imperial Family of Brazil

Pierced with sorrow, I fulfill my duty as Head of the Imperial House of Brazil to communicate the disappearance of my beloved nephew and much-regretted D. Pedro Luiz de Orleans e Bragança, in the fateful May 31 ocean crash of the Air France Rio-Paris flight.

Given the harrowing pain of his parents, D. Antonio and D. Christine, his brother and sisters, D. Amélia, D. Rafael and D. Maria Gabriela, and my dear Mother, D. Maria, I turn to them with special solicitude and affection.

And with the whole Imperial Family, I turn with the same solicitude and affection to all those who have lost their loved ones in the crash. To all these families - so very special to Brazil - the Imperial Family extends its condolences and asks God for the eternal repose of each and every victim.

Over the last few days, D. Pedro Luiz's parents and I have received so many manifestations of genuine mourning for the tragic event that I can only see these events as a living and authentic expression of the sense of family and ties of affection that unites the Imperial Family and all Brazilians, whether monarchist or not.

D. Pedro Luiz – the fourth in the line of dynastic succession - was a young Prince who rose in his generation as a promise, having attracted the interest and attention of many for his pleasant ways, undeniable qualities and for the traditions he represented.

As a result of his excellent upbringing and fine sense of duty, instilled by his parents, after having graduated in Business Administration at IBMEC in Rio de Janeiro, and his post-graduation at FGV, he took the initial steps of a promising career at BNP Paribas in Luxembourg, and showed great concern and commitment to show foreigners the great potential of our country.

But his presence was especially dear among those who believe the monarchy is the solution for today's Brazil .

D. Pedro Luiz was president of honor of Monarchic Youth and participated in noteworthy activities and events to the benefit of the monarchic ideal, often in the company of his parents. He represented the Imperial House on occasion, and I am especially pleased to recall his presence in Portugal for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil .

While this is a moment of apprehension and sadness, it can not be devoid of hope. Our hopes turn particularly to D. Pedro Luiz's brother, D. Rafael – to whom I wish courage and determination in the face of misfortune, and whom I urge to be a true example of Prince to his generation, turned to the good of Brazil and to setting an example of Christian virtues.

To close this painful communiqué, I turn my eyes to Our Lady Aparecida, Queen and Patroness of Brazil, Whom beseech with confidence to receive D. Pedro Luiz in eternity. And I ask for special prayers for him, as well as for his parents, brothers and my dear Mother, from all those who, in a spirit of faith, have supported the Imperial Family at this time of mourning.

São Paulo , June 5, 2009
Dom Luiz de Orleans e Bragança
Head of the Imperial House of Brazil

Queen's Birthday Poll

Channel Ten's question of ther week:

Is it time Australia became a republic?

Yes 20.8%

No 79.2%

I wonder how the republicans will deal with this result.

Where are all those republican writers on Queen's Birthday Holiday?

I have to admit: I was wrong. I expected the united republican media hunt to have a field day on Queen’s Birthday Holiday. I was prepared to read the re-heated phrases from previous years, but the usual suspects, the famous “Melbourne commentators and republicans” must have been occupied elsewhere.

However, The Age fulfilled my expectations and printed an editorial in connection with the Queen’s Birthday’s honours list. “The one truly incongruous note about today's holiday is that officially it marks the Queen's birthday even though the monarch — whose real birth date is April 21 — has precious little to do these days with either the Australian awards system or Australia. The empire is long gone, and widely shared loyalties to the Queen with it; most Australians' allegiance is to the country they live in. Imperial honours were discarded in 1975, yet today's honours are still awarded on a day supposedly devoted to our head of state.”

The Imperial honours were dropped by politicians, not by popular demand of the people. France kept the "Légion d'honneur", which was established by the first consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, in 1802. The country went through many changes, but the honours list remained.

And why does The Age claim, Queen's Birthday were “a day supposedly devoted to our head of state”? It is republicans who have to accept a fact they dislike. This day IS devoted to our Queen.

“By all means retain a long holiday weekend, but … [t]his holiday requires an identity to match its place and purpose in a country that is already republican at heart.” Wishful thinking: This country’s media are republican oriented, but the country itself is still “Monarchist at heart.” The circles journalists and their employers mingle in are the ones who dream of a republic, but they cannot specify their dreams and tell us, what kind of republic they want.

This year The Age did not run a campaign like the one in 2008, when a “Kids Day” was high on their agenda. “Resurrection Day” might be an option, after a couple of republicans groups decided to resurrect in a newly formed Coalition of Australian Republicans (CAR) the day before Queen’s Birthday Holiday. Or could “CAR Day” be acceptable to our republican media?

Republican revival meeting

May be the Aussie republicans should push for renaming Queen’s Birthday Holiday into Resurrection Day.

Why? Look, what they try to do according to The Brisbane Times, The Age's sister newspaper in Queensland : “Members of the newly formed Coalition of Australian Republicans (CAR) think there's no better time than the Queen's Birthday weekend to resurrect the battle against our ties to the British monarchy.”

Resurrected, that means arisen from the dead? And why British Monarchy instead of Australian Monarchy, as we actually have? While being dead, the republicans must have missed that the ties with the British Monarchy were cut on 2nd March 1986, the "Queen signed the Australia Bill, formally severing the last constitutional ties with Britain."

The Brisbane Times has more reveling news about the resurrected republicans: “Previously feuding anti-monarchists … have joined forces. … Others in the CAR group include Women for an Australian Republic, the Copernican Republicans, the Foundation for Constitutional Renewal, Patriots for the Australian Republic, Republic Now! and the Republican Party of Australia.”

I wonder what they stand for. “There was a lot of hostility and disunity among republicans last time so it's heart-warming to see we've mended our bridges and are working together for the future good of the country.” They give the impression that the revival meeting of Australian Republican Movement's Michael Keating and Real Republic's David Muir healed their discords. Well, aren’t revival meetings meant to save the sinners?

One thing is sure: The republicans are not short of lollies. The Brisbane Times: “Former Brisbane lord mayor Clem Jones left $2million for the republic campaign when he died in 2007. Mr Muir, a Brisbane solicitor, is chairman of the Clem Jones Foundation administering the funds.”I am sure solicitor Muir collects his fees from administering the funds and has a personal interest in keeping the republic question alive.

But think of of the good deeds that could be done with $2million, however, it all goes into a campaign that is doomed to fail – again.

The republicans will need many more revival meeting to resurrect their cause from the dead. Or is republicanism one of the undead cases that refuse to find eternal peace until a courageous person hammers a wooden stick into its heart?

King Albert and Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, eldest son and heir of the Belgian Monarch.

75th Birthday of King Albert II of the Belgians

Better than I could ever praise King Albert II of the Belgians one of his loyal subjects did this on the Monarch's birthday. The blog The Cross of Laeken celebrates the 75th birthday of this very popular King.

Here are just two excepts:

"Today, Belgium's reigning monarch, H.M. King Albert II, celebrates his 75th birthday. He was born June 6, 1934, the second son and third child of King Leopold III and Queen Astrid of the Belgians. He was named after his illustrious grandfather, King Albert I, tragically deceased in a climbing accident only a few months before. At the age of 14 months, Prince Albert (titled "Prince of Liège") lost his mother, equally tragically, in a car crash. He would know no mother until his father's re-marriage, amidst World War II and Nazi occupation, with Lilian Baels, a lovely young Flemish commoner.

"The royal family's captivity in Germany and Austria from 1944-1945 was a terrible ordeal for Prince Albert. The lack of food caused him to develop hunger edema. A leg injury treated perfunctorily by an SS guard turned into gangrene, but, fortunately, Lilian's vehement insistence on obtaining proper medical attention saved the leg of the future King."

I do highly recommend to read the whole posting on The Cross of Laeken.

Happy birthday, Your Majesty!

Bon anniversaire, Sire!

Gelukkige verjaardag, Majesteit!

Call to all Royalists - European Elections

Dear Madam, dear Sir,

Dear friends,
Alliance Royale is a political party created in 2001 to reintroduce the question of the monarchy into the political debates. Our sole objective is to use the election campaigns to make our fellow citizens understand that the royal principle is making a relevant and timely response to the difficulties our country has been facing for many years. We were therefore present in different local or national elections during the past few years.

As in 2004, Alliance Royale will present candidates in the forthcoming European elections. Wishing to stay out of conflicts that divide the French Royalist opinion, Alliance Royale has opted for neutrality in dynastic matters since its creation. It develops proposals that are primarily designed to meet the legitimate questions being asked by voters about the decision that a king and his councils could make in the current situation. We understand very well that other royalist movements can legitimately advocate an other political vision. These differences should not be a cause of division between us.

That is why we offer all of them to gather around the urgent and important issue : meeting the citizens of our respective countries to invite them to build their future by reviving the identity of European countries founded on christian monarchies.

We invite you to join our European campaign. This is not to set aside your own sensitivity or to give up your freedom of speech, but to align with us on what we share : the defense and promotion of the royal principle. You can do this in several ways :

- in providing institutional support to our lists, which would result in information to your members and supporters and in a mention that we would add to our campaign documents like "With the support of" followed by your logo,

- in calling your members and supporters to be on our list of candidates (especially women, to meet the requirements of parity), as did Italian and French Royalist movements.
There is no other engagement expected from movements or candidates beyond this temporary cooperation. This does not say that there is no disagreement on any particular issue that could be discussed, as long as we avoid unnecessary controversy that could weaken a loyal support to our common objective for the duration of the campaign.

Hoping that this offer will attract your attention and that you will be willing to respond positively, we remain at your disposal to answer your questions.

Cyrille Henrys
General Delegate of Alliance Royale

At Gallia Watch you the party's ten reasons why it is important to vote for the AR in English.
Poster, photos and lists of all candidates can be downloaded from the Alliance Royale's website.

Queen's Birthday Holiday

Much to the annoyance of republicans Australia is celebrating Queen’s Birthday on Monday, 8th June. The well-known republicans certainly have already written their malicious anti-Monarchist articles and the editors of our major newspapers have pre-selected them for publishing. We will know soon enough what inflamed them this year. I bet it will be a repeat of their old prejudices and false accusation.

Nothing new. We, however, Her Majesty’s loyal Australian subjects, not only enjoy the holiday, but we rejoice in celebrating our Monarch’s birthday.

The Queen's Official Birthday (Queen's Birthday) is celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries although it is also celebrated in Fiji, now a republic.

The exact date of the celebration varies from country to country, and it does not usually mark the real birthday of the sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II, was born on 21 April 1926).

Australia (except Western Australia), observes the Queen's Birthday on the second Monday in June, marking it with a public holiday. It also serves as the opening weekend to Australia's snow season.

Australians have enjoyed this holiday since 1788 when Governor Phillip declared a holiday on the birthday of King George III. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of King George V it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.


Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Australia, and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in his Royal Australian Air Force uniform. This is the official portrait of the Australian sovereign as it is handed out by Her Australian government.

The royal couple wear the insignia of The Order of Australia. The Order of Australia, instituted by Her Majesty The Queen on 14 February 1975, was established as "an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service".

Air France flight 447 killed the Brazilian Imperial Family’s Heir Presumptive

French media reported it were unlikely to find any survivors of the 228 people on board a Paris-bound Air France plane which disappeared over the Atlantic after taking off from Rio de Janeiro last Monday.

His Imperial and Royal Highness Dom Pedro Luiz de Orléans e Bragança, Prince of Brazil, was aboard Air France flight 447 and died at the age of 26.

The late Dom Pedro Luiz, born 12th January 1983, was an attractive young man, actively involved in Brazilian Monarchist affairs, and great hopes were placed in his future as the Heir Presumptive, after his bachelor uncles, Dom Luiz I and Dom Bertrão, and his father, Dom Antonio.

Through his mother, Princess Christine of Ligne, Dom Pedro Luiz was also related to the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg. His mother's grandmother was Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, who is grandmother of the present Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri I.

The late Dom Pedro Luiz has a younger brother, Dom Rafael Antonio Maria José Francisco Miguel Gabriel Gonzaga de Orléans e Bragança, Prince of Brazil (born 1986) and two sisters, Princess Amélia (born 1984) and Princess Maria Gabriela (born 1989), who are in the line of succession after their bachelor uncles, HI&RH Dom Luíz de Orléans e Bragança (born 1938), Head of the Imperial House of Brazil, and HI&RH Dom Bertrão de Orléans e Bragançca (born 1942), and their father, HI&RH Dom Antônio of Orléans-Bragança (born 1950).

Requiescat in pace.

Brazilian News

The Imperial Family of Brazil's website

The Age, again ...

Today's Age contained these two lines:

[2nd June] 1953 - Queen Elizabeth II of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Is that a warm-up for nastiness on Queen's Birthday next Monday? Or is it just plain ignorance from the editor?

Queen Elizabeth II was never crowned Queen of England, but Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia , New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, and of Her Possessions and other Territories.


The Queen of Australia at Her Coronation ceremony on 2nd June 1953

Very true

Some media get it right:

"Anti-royal sentiments have always existed. But they are shallow and transient - although they can be whipped up and exaggerated by those wishing to advance their own agendas; some ideological or political, some simply commercial."

Does anyone know, where this perception comes from?

Observant Canadians: "Monarchists write poetry. Republicans write instruction manuals"

Jack Knox, Victoria Times Colonist, 24th May 2009:

"Republicans argue that Canada is no longer a British colony (as if we didn't know this) and that the monarchy is illogical. Well, of course, Canada's monarchy is illogical. All monarchies are. But it's also illogical that Americans should elect a man who, even after eight years with his hand hovering over the button, still thought it was pronounced "nucular." It's illogical that 16 years after he left office, we are still trying to figure out whether Brian Mulroney deserves an apology or a shot at getting shanked by Conrad Black in the shower room. Logic is overrated.

"Wretched, soulless republicans are grim-faced slaves to the logic chips that replaced their hearts. (Monarchists write poetry. Republicans write instruction manuals.) Republicans fail to understand that the value of the monarchy is not in the individuals, but in the ideals they represent (honour, loyalty, courage, inbreeding, corgi maintenance). Like they say in the army, you salute the uniform, not the person inside it."

Germany’s president gets elected - and nobody took notice

Germany held presidential elections. Did anybody take any notice? Well, I cannot find a single hint in any Australian media. The ceremony was not exactly behind close doors – at least not the official act, however, when it comes to the selection of the candidates that is a different matter. Members of Germany's electoral college elected incumbent Horst Köhler as president with 613 votes out of 1,224, one vote above the required overall majority. He was backed by the conservative Christian Democrats, the free-market oriented Liberals, some independents and one Green. Silke Stokar of Hanover cast the decisive vote - and proudly made her decision public.

The opposition's candidate, Gesine Schwan, was supported by the Social Democrats (SPD) and most other Greens and secured 503 votes in the secret ballot. The rest went to a candidate supported by the former Communist “Die Linke”, four votes were cast in favour of a Neo-Nazi supported singer.

The panel (Bundesversammlung) comprises all 612 members of the Bundestag (lower house) and 612 public figures, a few of them sports "heroes" and television actors, nominated by Germany's 16 federal states. The German population had no say in the composition of the Bundesversammlung. They were never asked whom they wanted as their president.

When Horst Köhler was first elected in 2004, he was not even living in Germany. At that time he headed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and had to be called back from Washington. The conservative party leaders had been unable to agree on a candidate of their liking. It is a well established fact that three party leaders had gathered in a penthouse flat of one of them and agreed at one o’clock in the morning: Habemus Köhler. Since it was not necessary to send him into an electoral campaign to get a popular vote, the practically unknown Horst Köhler slipped into the presidential Palace, Schloß Bellevue in Berlin, with a one vote majority.

The victory for the 66-year-old Köhler in the first round is expected to give Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives an important boost ahead of the September parliamentary election, where she is seeking a second four-year term.

The politicians’ republic, which was rejected by the Australian people in a referendum in 1999 is well in place in Germany. The German people get, what the politicians select for them. Does anybody - outside Germany - care? Compare just two events. Last year, the tiny Kingdom of Tonga with 120,000 inhabitants was the talk of the world, when the new King was crowned. The 80 million Germans get a new president – and the world is bored and ignores the event.

The world media were attracted to the minuscule Principality of Monaco, when Prince Rainier III died in 2005 and his heir, Prince Albert II, ascended to the throne. Horst Köhler taking up residence in Berlin’s Schloß Bellevue did not even get a snippet in The Age.

How German Monarchists commented the “presidential election” can be read in one of their publications. Ask for a copy of the German language Corona newsletter: corona_redaktion@yahoo.com.

And he is the one, German Monarchists want to see as Kaiser:
Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia (*1976), Head of the House of Hohenzollern, a great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

The Queen's portrait unveiled in Canberra's National Museum of Australia
Comment of an Age reader this morning: “It is so nice to open the newspaper and find a pleasant photo.” Sir William Dargie’s portrait "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second 1954“ was on page 3 of today’s Age.

The photo of the stunning portrait was a very pleasant surprise, but what about the accompanying article? Oh well, it kept its usual tone, however The Age could control its republicanism for a day: "AAAH, the golden, olden 1950s when a beautiful queen reigned and hundreds of thousands filled the streets to see her passing by when she made her astonishingly successful visit to Australia in 1954.

"A portrait of the young Queen by Australian artist[Sir] William Dargie painted that year at Buckingham Palace captured her sunny calm and authority. The image of the Queen in the famous 'Wattle dress' she had worn during that tour was lovingly reproduced for thousands of scout halls, government offices and citizenship certificates.

"Sir William waited for the first portrait to land safely [in Canberra] before sending off a second version he had painted at the same time as the first. On the back of the canvas he scrawled his explanation that "at least one version" would make it safely home if disaster struck.

"This second version went on to tour Australia before [Sir William] gave it to Lady Mary Hamilton Fairley, his host in London while he worked on the portraits.

"Now that painting is in Canberra's National Museum of Australia, which bought it this month for $146,400 from a Melbourne auction house acting for Fairley's descendants.
The museum's senior curator, Guy Hansen, who unveiled the work yesterday, admitted the appeal of the painting lies almost as much in what is jotted on the back of the canvas as in what is painted on its front.

"'We possibly would have bought it even without that story but the inscription is a lovely add-on,' Mr Hansen said.

"Although the first version of the painting can be seen in the Parliament House collection, it is on permanent display and cannot be loaned. The National Museum intends to tour its painting to show it as an important example of Australian social history.

"'It's hard for people under 60 to imagine the impact the Queen's visit had in 1954,' said Mr Hansen, 45. 'This was a definitive moment in Australia and this was incredibly important as the most memorable and ubiquitous image of the Queen's visit.'"

Although being under 60, I can imagine the impact of Her Majesty's visit. And so do republicans. That is the reason, why they do not want any member of our Royal Family coming to Australia. The success of Princess Anne's visit to the Victorian bushfires in February demonstrated the bond between the Australians and their Royal Family "and scared the living daylight out of the politicians" added the delighted reader of The Age.

Similarities

Faulty reports on Royals are no specialty of republican-minded Australian journalists. British media give enough bad examples, as Marlene Eilers Koenig discovered:

"Daily Mail 'reporters' do not know how to report the news. They prefer (to)sensationalize a story, rather than provide actual facts. Daily Mail 'reporters' also have an unerring ability to ignore facts and eschew research. This is only enforced by many of the comments that follow such stories. Take a look at a story in today's Mail regarding a possible review of security measures for some of the younger royals. (Photo editors at the Mail make sure they find the most deleterious photos to accompany their stories.)"

Sounds very familiar in Aussie ears, doesn't it? Read the whole article here.

Marlene Eilers Koenig lives in Virginia, USA, is a librarian by profession - and also writes about royalty.

What happened to the "inevitable republic" that was taken for granted in 1998?

Of all the media I least expected The Australian to publish an article on "the Australian commentariat and the news reporters [...] barracking for the seemingly inevitable republic".

Christopher Pearson recalled his experience of the 1998 Constitutional Convention and predicts: "Among the past and present premiers, it's not hard to imagine even the likes of Bob Carr campaigning for the preservation of the House of Windsor, if that was what it took to defeat the direct election model."

"AS a journalist in 1998 I attended the Constitutional Convention held in Old Parliament House, Canberra.

"It was a rather unsettling experience because, almost without exception, the Australian commentariat and the news reporters were barracking for the seemingly inevitable republic.

"I was a columnist with The Australian Financial Review and persuaded the editors that in the interests of balance it would be a good idea to send me along as a sceptical, contrarian observer. This stratagem had the added benefit of shaming The Australian, a far more vehemently republican journal, into giving Tony Abbott the same brief."

Read the whole article here.

Differences

While in the Constitutional Monarchy of Australia Victoria's only quality newspaper, The Age , printed 19 faulty lines on the Queen of Australia's Birthday, in the French republic the daily newspaper Le Figaro dedicated a whole page to the Queen on 21st April 2009:
"Faut-il s'étonner, alors que toutes les autres institutions - Église d'Angleterre, justice, Parlement ... - sont aujourd'hui déconsidérées par des scandales à répétition, qu'Élisabeth II paraisse un roc dans la tempête?"

Translation: "Does one have to wonder while all the other institutions - Church of England, justice, parliament ... - today are discredited by continuous scandals, that Elizabeth II seems to be a rock in the storm?"

The article without a single faulty line, written by Le Figaro's royal editor Stéphane Bern, yes, this French newspaper has a royal editor, is full of praise for "cette petite femme d'1.58 m, dotée d'un teint de pêche et d'un regard bleu qui la font ressembler á une porcellaine de Saxe".

It is utopian to think of a royal editor at The Age, but why don't they let their articles about our Monarchy and our Royal Family be written by someone, who can distinguish between facts and fiction, between information and defamation?

No, The Age prefers authors like Guy Rundle, who states: "The old Marxist in me wants conflict, dissatisfaction and chaos ...". He made his confession in the book "The Best Australian Political Writing 2009" and you wonder, why the editor asked Guy Rundle to contribute. After all, he lives in the United Kingdom and not in Australia.

"The Queen ist most grateful ...

... for the continuing loyalty and support she receives from her subjects within the Commonwealth."

Accession of King Umberto II of Italy

Yesterday marked the 63rd anniversary of the accession of King Umberto II and his Belgian-born wife, Queen Marie-José, to the Italian throne. On May 9, 1946, Umberto's father, King Vittorio Emanuele III abdicated in his son's favour.

I highly recommend this blog: The Cross of Laeken for more information on the Italian royal couple.

The last Savoy to have reigned in Italy died March 18, 1983 in Geneva, at the age of 79. He lived 44 of his 83 years in exile. His funeral was ignored by the Italian authorities (only the Italian consul in Lyon was present), but it was attended by ten thousand Italians who made their way to the abbey of Hautecombe near Aix-les-Bains in High Savoy, France. The funeral was attended by the King and Queen of Spain, the King and Queen of the Belgians, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Prince Rainier III of Monaco with his son and heir, Prince Albert, the Duke of Kent represented the Queen of the United Kingdom. The King of the Bulgarians, the King of Romania and the King of the Hellenes paid their last respect to King Umberto. The Vatican was represented by the Apostolic Nuncio in France.

The Queen is worth more than many people thought

Sir William Dargie’s famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, was sold at auction house Bonhams & Goodman in Prahan on 6th May.

It changed ownership for $120,000 when $50,000 to $70,000 was expected.

It set a new sales record for the late Footscray-born portrait painter.

Bonham’s national head of art, Geoffrey Smith, called Sir William Dargie’s portrait entitled Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second 1954 “one of Australia’s most famous paintings".


Showing the Queen of Australia in her “wattle” dress, it became the subject of colour photographs distributed widely in federal, state and local government departments, schools, hospitals, libraries, church halls and RSL clubs throughout the country.

For many immigrants it was their first encounter with Australian art as the masterpiece was reproduced on their Australian naturalization papers, and a print of the portrait was generally present when they took the Oath of Allegiance.

It had been commissioned by Melbourne industrialist James Beveridge for presentation to the Commonwealth Government to commemorate the Queen’s first encounter with Her Australian people.

The Queen, who had arrived in Sydney on 3rd February 1954, had worn the wattle gown to her first evening engagement in Sydney, and again to her last evening function in Perth.

Sir William Dargie painted more than one portrait to ensure one made it safely to Australia. The other, on offer at the Bonhams' auction, was presented to Sir Neil and Lady Hamilton Fairley with whom he stayed while in London. Another one was commissioned in 1975 for the Portrait Gallery of Sir Leon and Lady Trout. The same portrait was also produced for the government of New Zealand.

Eight-time Archibald Prize winner Sir William Dargie died at a Melbourne hospital on 26th July 2003, aged 91.

He received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1959, was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1969, and served on numerous gallery and museum boards. He was knighted on 13th June 1970.

Coloured prints are still advertised, as available today, through The Australian Monarchist League.

Does The Age follow this blog?

In today's edition of The Age I found this little news item.

Browned off
THEY are a vanishing breed, the Aussie knights of the realm, but the survivors still appear keen to have their royal gonghoods limelit. "Do you have any objection to using my title?" asked Sir David Smith of feisty Greens senator Bob Brown on ABC radio the other day. Brown had called him "Mr Smith" and the miffed 76-year-old knight, famed for reading the Whitlam dismissal proclamation on the parliamentary steps in 1975, called time-out. "A little courtesy wouldn't go too far," he told Brown, before apologising for interrupting a question. "You did, Mr Smith," said Brown. He's a tease, is Bob.

Isn't it a strange coincidence that this conversation was published one day after it had appeared on this blog?

Politeness

Sir Gulam Noon was born in Bombay in 1936. Within 40 years of arriving in London he was producing a quarter of a million curries a day for British supermarkets.

In a newspaper interview he mentioned the Queen, whom he had met on several occasions. ”I told her to call me Noon, but she said, ‘No, you have a knighthood, you are Sir Gulam’.”

That’s the politeness of a Monarch.

The politeness of a politician can be seen in this episode, reported by the ABC:
Place: Canberra, the Public hearing of the Inquiry into the Plebiscite for an Australian Republic Bill 2008
Date: 29th April 2009

SIR DAVID SMITH: I'm not talking about legislation. I am talking about the constitution, Senator.

SENATOR BOB BROWN: We are talking about legislation here, Mr Smith. This is a bill before the Parliament.

SIR DAVID SMITH: Do you have an objection to using my title. Should I call you Bob or Mr Brown?

SENATOR BOB BROWN: You are welcome to.

SIR DAVID SMITH: Okay.

SENATOR BOB BROWN: Very much so.

SIR DAVID SMITH: A little courtesy wouldn't go too far.

SENATOR BOB BROWN: Well …

SIR DAVID SMITH: I'm sorry. I interrupted your question. I apologise.

SENATOR BOB BROWN: You did, Mr Smith.

No need to mention that in the ABC report, Sir David was not referred to with his title.

Hear, hear!

The Age succeeded in surprising me today:

"But a republic is not inevitable. It won't happen unless it is kept on the national political agenda, and the major parties — both of which are now led by avowed republicans — should support Senator Brown's bill."

The Age will do everything to keep republicanism alive and soon return to its usual mantra of some inevitability to replace our Australian Monarchy with "a" republic.

Interestingly The Age commented in its editorial yesterday's Finance and Public Administration Committee's hearing of the inquiry into a plebiscite for "an" Australian republic Bill, but it reported nothing of the hearing.

It could have done so like the ABC that picked up odd bits and pieces of various statements, but a good newspaper would have given a full report of the pros and cons that were brought forward.

We Age readers really missed out highlights like this: Sarah Brasch, who represented Women for an Australian republic triumphantly announced that finally 43 percent of Australian women supported "a" republic. 43 percent!! Hardly the overwhelming majority, that is usually claimed by The Age and likeminded republican politicians.

Why did The Age fail - again - to do its job?

The Age continues the Governor's saga

While nobody knows, where the Governor of Victoria is - the Premier's office did not reply to a question about David de Kretser's official visit "in the Middle East" - Paul Austin continued his useless campaign about the Governor's right "to speak out on contentious issues such as global warming".

Today's Age could report of a bi-partisan support: "Mr Brumby and Mr Baillieu were responding to reports in The Age on recent speeches by Professor de Kretser in which he has issued a call to arms on global warming." According to The Age "Mr Baillieu said Australian society had moved on from the view that vice-regal representatives should stay silent.

Of course, this article followed the rule, that The Age does not publish any article without a sting against the Australian Monarchy. The paper referred to the "representatives of the Queen in Australia". Naturally the correct term is the Queen of Australia.

A lot of propaganda in two letters.

Carnation Revolution in Portugal 35 years ago

The Carnation Revolution (Portuguese: Revolução dos Cravos), was a military coup against a 40 year old dictatorship, which started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal. It gave all political groups the opportunity to form parties and to participate in the political life of the country. Before the coup the Portuguese Monarchists had been part of the opposition against António de Oliveira Salazar and Marcelo Caetano. My Portuguese friend, Nuno Castelo-Branco , writes on the Carnation Revolution from a Monarchist point of view. Nuno has two blogs, that are worth checking: estadosentido and centenario-republica.

The 25th April 1974 has a special signifiance for the Portuguese history, because it meant a clear rupture with the colonial past. At that time Portugal held overseas territories in the Atlantic - Cape Verde, São Tomé, in Africa - Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique -,and in Asia - Macau and Timor -, but Portugal was facing a guerrilla war on several African fronts, this was during the same period as the Vietnam war. Without any support of from formal NATO allies, the Portuguese army managed to contain the thread imposed by movements armed by the USSR and China and financed by countries that had interests in the economic prospects in Angola and Mozambique.

The internal situation of the regime had started to crumble in the post-WWII period, when the influence of communism was evident around the world. Half of Europe was occupied by the Red Army and the decolonization period arrived with the "winds of history".

Portugal had a banishment law for the Braganza family. This law was imposed after the illegal and brutal coup d'État in 1910, but the collapse of the 1st republic in 1926 - due to fraud, incompetence, economic disaster and political repression -, gave the “restaurationists” some hopes to achieve the return of the Monarchy. Unfortunately, the premature death of King Manuel II in 1932 created a new situation and rendered the path for a smooth acceptation of the restoration more difficult. [In 1933 António de Oliveira Salazar came to power. RR]

The visit of Queen Amelia in 1945 surprised the Salazar regime, who could not expect such a popular reception, with thousands of people cheering her everywhere. Amelia embodied in fact the last rememberance of a regime of political tolerance, being the face of the multi-party constitutiobal legalism. Wishing to calm down the internal pressure of the Monarchist members of the Causa Monárquica - the people’s wish was already tested by Amelia's visit -, Salazar finally agreed to abolish the banishment law, precisely in the period that General Franco declared Spain a kingdom "in waiting". All the opposition was waiting what the new situation held for them: The Braganzas returned to Portugal. It was well known that the regime’s own party, the União Nacional, had an extremely strong monarchist section. Salazar knew that the Duke of Braganza was an admirer of the British Monarchy. On this prospect, that the Portuguese Estado Nuevo could be replaced by a Parliamentarian Monarchy Salazar decided to stay on the republican way, seeing in the restoration a threat to his personal power.

The accomplishment of the military service of the (then Crown Prince) Dom Duarte at the front in Angola, left negative impressions on Marcelo Caetano (who had succeded Salazar in 1968), because His Royal Highness tried to organize an opposition list in Angola, to run for the national elections. At this moment the ecologist-liberal group of Monarchists under the direction of Ribeiro Telles, announced the complete rupture with the Caetano regime, who was unable to solve politically the military conflict in the overseas territories. The war was far from lost, but without any logistic assistance by the formal allies, it could be prolonged in the future, creating internal friction and international oposition against Portugal.

The 25th April had as direct consequence the rapid abandonning of the overseas provinces, with a unprecedent chaos everywhere. Due to the clear influence of the communist party, the army retired, and circa one million "colons" (settlers) where forced to flee to Portugal, South Africa, Brazil and even Australia.

The normalization of the internal situation in Portugal, included the country’s entry into the EU, re-establishing of strong ties with the traditional allies, the United Kingdom and the USA. Actually, the economical degradation, the perils due to the massification of the EU, give a very clear rise of the Monarchist movement which is stronger than ever.

Deputies in parliament - in most of the democratic parties, Socialist, Social Democrat, Conservative, Party of the Earth/ecologists -, in the press - some polls give circa 40% to the monarchy in an hypothetic referendum -, and now, in the internet. As a simple curiosity, let me mention a poll of SIC (channel 3 of TV) on the day of the marriage of Dom Duarte with Isabel Herédia (1995), resulted in a 67% yes vote for the monarchy would a referendum have been held on that day! It's now quite normal that public figures like actors, journalists, university professors, etc. indicate their pro-monarchy opinion, and many see it as a guarantee for the survival of our country in the expanding European Union. The economic crisis and the internal political discredit are other factors that can enforce Monarchist hopes. The discrete and dignified social and cultural services of the actual Duke of Braganza, have a certain echo in the population which regards him as one of the few personalities in the country who is above any suspiction.

We must not forget his vital role in the liberation of East Timor, insisting for more than two decades on the right of an consultation of the people of this territory, with his intense diplomac efforts in Europe and in the USA. An important task of the Duke is without any doubt, strenghtning the ties with the increasingly important Community of the Portuguese Speaking Countries, where his diplomatic work is widely recognized.
N. C.-B.
Since 1975 the Monarchist People's Party (Partido Popular Monárquico = PPM) has taken part in all elections and has presently two seats in the Portuguese parliament.

Republican propaganda on ANZAC Day

Editorials in The Age are usually dull pieces of writing. The editorial on ANZAC Day 2009 was no exception from this rule. You had to struggle through 4,460 characters to reach the last sentence: “When Australia finally severs its vestigial links with the imperial past, declaring itself to be a republic with its own head of state, we really shall have an independence day, and Anzac Day will not be diminished by it.”

Will everybody be forced to celebrate “republic’s day”. More dreary editorials on the fabulous republic we have to enjoy? What about those people – like me – who are unrepentant Monarchists? Will they be excluded from the Australian community? Or does The Age editorialist believe, they would disappear with the proclamation of “a” republic? He or she has no clue about Monarchists and their stamina.

Even after 139 years of republican power in France, the regime has still to contest with up to 20 percent of French men and women who remain Royalists and who flourish in many organisations and even a political party, L’Alliance Royale. The Brazilian Monarchy was toppled by a military coup in 1889, yet, when a referendum of the form of state was held in 1993, 6,840,551 Brazilians cast their vote in favour of the Monarchy. The Imperial Family is highly respected in Brazil. In Germany only three years ago a Kaisertreue Jugend ("Youth loyal to the Emperor") was founded. 91 years after the Kaiser was forced to go into exile and 68 years after his death a small, but growing number of young Germans turn towards the Monarchy as an alternative to the republican regime.

Republicans mustn’t think they could get rid of us.

But these are all premature thoughts, because the Aussie republicans haven’t won the referendum and they are unlikely to win it, hence Kevin Rudd’s refusal to proceed with the necessary steps to call for a referendum.

The inevitable republican mantra

After Kevin Rudd had realised that his desire to bless Australia with his republic would not be the triumphant leisure walk he had imagined, the republicans - especially in the media - have fired their salvos with full force against the Australian Monarchy.

In today’s editorial in The Age, continues the line of “the nation's inevitable journey towards a republic”. And concludes: “The summit may be last year's story, but the republic is Australia's future story.” In yesterday’s Age Marilyn Lake, professor of history at La Trobe University, had already stated: “In the next few years, […] we prepare to inaugurate a republic,” inferring that “a” republic was a given.

As a professor of history Marilyn Lake should know better. History demonstrates in all its clarity that nothing is inevitable. Human beings cannot be pressed into certain categories and even the best computers cannot calculate their behaviour, still less their feelings or their attitude on political questions.

Until 1989 we were told that socialism was inevitable. The future belonged to the socialist ideas and Karl Marx had all the answers to solve poverty, exploitation, discrimination. Erich Honnecker, head of state of the German Democratic Republic, famously claimed:

”Den Sozialismus in seinem Lauf
halten weder Ochs noch Esel auf.”
(“The course of socialism will neither be hindered by oxen nor by donkeys.”)

After the collapse of the East European Communist systems even the Chinese Communist Party discovered the “charm of capitalism”. The future belonged to unlimited free markets systems, so we were told. Capitalism had won and the few remaining doubters were ridiculed. Can’t you remember?

These days we see what happened to the inevitable conquest of free market ideology.

Certainly as a historian Marilyn Lake could easily refer to the rise and fall of many other ideologies which for a shorter or longer time had captured the attention, and even love, of the political class. Republicanism is only one of many ideologies. And it is doomed like any other ideology, because it has failed in many parts of the world. To see the proof of this thesis read the newspapers and watch the nightly news programmes.