Barry Everingham reflects on the idiocy of a Constitution in which Australians are forced to inherit a preferably male foreign English Protestant (definitely not Catholic) head of state descended from some long-dead German Princess.
God forbid anything should happen to William before he and have Cate have their first child — but if something does go pear shaped, our next head of state would be that fun-loving royal Harry of Wales.
Now, before everyone gets on their high horses, let me make something perfectly clear — I’m not making predications and I’m not anticipating a royal disaster.
But we need to face a few facts.
We live in a scattergun world and William is a serving officer in Britain’s armed services. Apart from the Queen he enjoys the highest celebrity profile imaginable.
As such, the young man is a prize target for the plethora of lunatic terrorist groups operating worldwide and any enemy – perceived or real – he might be sent to fight on behalf of his country, though not ours.
The line of succession to the British throne – and sadly to its poor relation, the "throne of Australia” – is clear and it’s set in concrete.
There’s always someone standing in the wings who must take over in the event of a calamity.
In our case of course, it isn’t an Australian or in fact anyone remotely connected by blood to our country.
Prince Harry of Wales, like his only sibling, William of Wales, is a Protestant, he’s not a bastard, and he’s direct descendant of the Electress Sophia of Hanover.
And to make one thing clear, he isn’t a Roman Catholic.
The only qualifications needed to assume this country’s top job.
So back to the top – when the Queen dies (she will
never abdicate) our next king will be the current Prince of Wales, Charles.
Then it’s William and his children in order of their birth.
Now, if at the time of the death of Charles and something happens to a childless William, we’ll inherit Harry.
Such is the idiocy of the current Constitution of this country and, in spite of all the royal hysteria consuming the world right now, what we should be concentrating on now is that referendum we must have.
The British royal family’s contemporary history has two glaring examples of things going wrong in the line of succession and the second son filling the breach.
The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, stepped up one notch when his eldest brother suddenly died.
The same fate befell her father, King Gorge VI, whose eldest brother Edward VIII abdicated (dirty word to use in front of Elizabeth II).
So, good luck to William and Cate – we all love lovers and let’s hope the sun shines bright on their parade. Along with the rest for the world we at independentaustralia.net will be glued to the TV watching and hoping – hoping this will be last royal event in our short history which will have any Australian relevance.