AUDIO
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Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
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Despite our distance and waning ties to Britain, it seems that all Australia was mesmerised by the royal wedding. I have only encountered three people over the last few days who did not watch it. The weekend papers were full of pictures and by Sunday morning even the women’s magazines had their wedding editions on the newsstands.
Despite your correspondent’s republican leanings, I could not resist buying one. Only for research purposes, you understand, and in the interests of instructing my children on the importance of marriage (well, that was part of the reason).
The British do pomp and circumstance very, very well. Amid the gleaming horses, carriages, polished up cavalry and union jacks fluttering from every pole, for one day the British could savour something of the glory days of Empire.
For one day, too, the Church of England put aside schism and displayed its best self: profound liturgy, stirring music and great solemnity befitting the union of two people before God. This was no light commitment presided over by a marriage celebrant reciting flaccid wedding vows. Even the ‘thees’ and ‘thous’ of the Archbishop were not too out of place, although my seven-year old demanded to know who was the Holy Ghost. A stronger reference to the saving death of Jesus in the Bishop of London’s sermon would have ticked the final box.
There is no long-term comfort for Australian monarchists in the apparent delight of many locals in this spectacle. It is less about the monarchy and more about the hope expressed in a universal story of family, relationship, love and commitment. Only the heartless could be unmoved at the sight of a young man, plagued with a dysfunctional family, finding happiness and pledging to love and to cherish his bride, to honour her with his body and share all his worldly goods.
Long term, it is hard to see William becoming King of Australia. The Queen recently turned 85 and she looked well, walking without aid. She could conceiveably sit on the throne for another 10 or even 15 years (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother died at 101). The Australian public hold The Queen in great affection and so republicans can only sit and wait for King Charles III. It is only then that a real debate about our constitutional arrangements will seriously re-ignite. On a more personal note, let’s hope and pray that William and Catherine keep their marriage vows and enjoy a long and happy life together.
I thought the wedding was done precisely as it should have been done. Well done to Archbishop Williams, who usually receives much justified flak.
Until the republicans can agree a model that most Australians can accept, we will remain a constitutional monarchy. The only real hope for republicans is Charles (and Camilla), who may have learned from their errors and turn out to be decent monarch (and consort).
In Australia the Queen's birthday is a public holiday, where it is not in the UK. I recall John Chapman quipping in a sermon that Australia will never be a republic as Aussies wouldn't want to sacrifice their public holiday on the Queens birthday!
It is certianly not a foregone conclusion that Britain will always have a monarch as the head of state.
True, there has not been a groundswell of republicanism in Britain, but, as in Australia, the prospect of King Charles III does not fill most people with massive enthusiasm, and republican sentiment could well increase.
The Guardian leader comment got it right in that, providing the royals are giving a good account of themselves and seen to be public servants (not us the other way round) the majority of the British people will support the monarchy, but there is not the sycophancy towards the monarchy as ther has been in the passed. It has been a marked young/old divide, with many young shrugging and saying 'whatever', whist older people put the flags and bunting up.
Its interesting times as well, as there may in the near future be changes to the UK, as Scotland is expected to re-elect its nationalist government (the SNP), with its committment to holding - and winning a referendum on Scottish independence. Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalists, are further off from this but have the same aspirations. This would probably have some impact on the UK monarchy.