Republicans to leave Queen alone

[OMEN]

REPUBLICANS say they have no plans for any protests during the Queen's visit to Australia, which starts tomorrow.
The Queen and Prince Philip arrive in Canberra tomorrow for a four-day tour, estimated to cost taxpayers around $3 million.

There has been intense speculation that this will be the Queen's last major overseas tour as she approaches her 80th birthday on April 21 and may hand over more duties to Prince Charles.

Australian Republican Movement spokesman Terry Fewtrell said while it was a nonsense for Australia to have a British head of state, republicans would not engage in protests.

"The principal reason for the Queen's visit is to open the Commonwealth Games and, as republicans, we support Australia remaining as a member of the Commonwealth," Mr Fewtrell said.

"After all, most of the countries in the Commonwealth are republics.
"We bear no ill will towards Queen Elizabeth.

"But we think it is a nonsense that a British monarch can truly express and represent Australian values and interests in this day and age.

"Until our head of state is one of us, we are diminished as a nation and a people."

This is the Queen's 15th visit to Australia, after last visiting in 2002 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Queen arrives in Canberra tomorrow, where she will meet informally with Prime Minister John Howard and Governor-General Michael Jeffery and have a rest day before heading to Sydney for official duties.

In Sydney on Monday, she will be welcomed with a 21-gun salute and an Aboriginal greeting before opening the Western Colonnade of the Sydney Opera House – the first extension of the Australian icon since the Queen opened it in 1973.

After a Commonwealth Day service at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, she will attend a reception at Admiralty House, again with the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday, back in Canberra, Prince Philip will attend a presentation on agricultural sustainability and a viewing of plant specimens dating back to Captain Cook's 1770 expedition, while the Queen formally meets with Mr Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley.

Other Canberra activities include a tree planting ceremony, a meeting with heroes of the January 2003 bushfires and a formal dinner at Parliament House.

On Wednesday, the royal couple will open the Commonwealth Games and meet with Games volunteers before taking in badminton, rugby sevens and swimming the following day.

They will then head to Singapore for the next leg of the tour.

FoxNews

[the madscotsman]

Y Don't They Just Get Rid Of The Old Bitch You Know. Like The Americans Do With All Their Problems.