Harry and Meghan’s antics have helped restore Australia’s faith in the Monarchy, writes Angela Mollard. Our nations are bound by ties of duty – and family. As brave King Charles is making clear…

‘A possible tour’ by King Charles to Australia later this year hardly seems like news to get us stringing up the bunting or popping the streamers.

At any other time, such an inconclusive announcement from the office of the Australian Prime Minister might suggest that the King has only muted interest in a jaunt to the colonies.

And only if His Majesty doesn’t get a better offer.

The past two weeks of royal woe have changed all that. Right now, the idea that Charles might – just might – may make his first visit Down Under since becoming King is a bright light in an ocean of gloom.

Not only does it offer the first sign that the 75-year-old King’s cancer treatment might eventually be successful, it underscores how important the relationship between the two nations remains – to both sides.

The King will miss the Commonwealth Day service next Monday as he continues to receive treatment, but he takes his role as head of the 56 member states extremely seriously.

He has even recorded a special message which will be broadcast round the world to mark the event.

In fact, his decision to press on with the planned trip to Australia speaks volumes of his desire to protect and maintain a shared relationship which, if truth be told, is vital for both parties – however much bickering has taken place along the way.

In the years leading up to Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022 the conversation in Australia tended to assume that, while we respected Her Majesty, the same affection would not be bestowed on her son.

There was a growing expectation that the country would break ties with the monarchy and be governed by its own Head of State.

Not that anyone knew what this might look like – which is partly why the referendum on a republic fell over when it went to the vote in 1999.

A quarter of a century later, the push for independence has never looked more feeble.

Bizarrely, the crown-and-castle caper we were apparently so anxious to jettison has been replaced by something midway between curiosity and respect.

Here, where the royal family are neither an institutional fixture nor a backdrop to daily life, the shenanigans of recent years served largely as entertainment.

As Megxit unfolded, we observed from afar as if watching the Kardashians, only with crowns.

Yet the Sussex defection did little for the republican cause.

Instead – and rather peculiarly – it seemed to solder our allegiance to this problem-riven family with the ageing matriarch, a gradually rehabilitated heir, his two motherless sons and their glamorous wives.

Duty, service, steadfastness – those qualities we’d so admired in the woman who reigned for 70 years, were suddenly thrown into stark relief by Harry and Meghan’s antics.

Here in the land where anybody who has tickets on themselves is quickly brought down to size, the new King, his good-humoured wife and the picture-perfect Wales family seemed the epitome of dignity and tireless hard work.

Here where there is little respect for moaning or posturing, Harry’s hypocrisy in constantly blasting his family while still dipping into the titles and trappings it affords has not won him any fans.

Our loyalty to Britain is built on characteristics that are as traditional as they are modern: shared values, togetherness, democracy, allegiance, good-humoured rivalry and – in these troubling global times – a deep commitment to peace.

Indeed, when the palace announced the King had cancer, even the Australian Republican Movement sent good wishes.

Announcing the ‘possible’ royal visit yesterday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out that King had ‘shown compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis.

‘The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia,’ he said.

Post-cancer, Australia will be a soft landing place for the monarch who has always adored the continent since living here as a schoolboy. He regards his spell at Geelong Grammar as one of the happiest times of his life and certainly the highlight of his schooling.

‘Quite frankly, it was by far the best part, he said in a speech years later. ‘I had the Pommy bits bashed off me. Like chips off an old block.’

Is it premature to announce a visit so shortly after a cancer diagnosis?

Perhaps there’s been no choice in the matter. Planning for a tour can take many months with multiple state and territory groups involved.