King’s Australia visit in ‘insult’ row over reception… full story below 👇👇👇

Monarchists in Australia have accused the state premiers of “insulting” King Charles as they will not be present at a reception welcoming him to the country.

The King’s visit, which begins later this week, will include a reception in Canberra, but the six state premiers – of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania – have said they’re unable to attend.

“I find it insulting,” said Bev McArthur of the Australian Monarchist League. “They should just take off their republican hats, make the short trip to Canberra, say ‘hi and thank for you coming to Australia’.”

Buckingham Palace is not commenting on the row – but the Australian states will all have representatives at the event, including their governors

The King will also be formally welcomed by the country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

It is a visit which has re-opened questions about whether Australia should become a republic – with this so-called “snub” at the reception being highlighted by the Daily Mirror.

Bev McArthur, a pro-monarchist campaigner and Liberal MP, told ABC News radio it was an “insult” that state premiers were not going to the reception next Monday.

“The failure of state premiers to attend the reception in Canberra is completely indefensible,” she told the BBC, accusing them of “gesture-led politics”.

“Welcoming the King and Queen to Australia is the least they can do as the most senior elected representatives of their states,” she said.

Writing on social media, she said the King was being “snubbed”.

Mrs McArthur was unconvinced by the excuses from the regional heads of government – which included having other commitments and meetings that day – telling the BBC it was “petty and inhospitable”.