Australia loves Prince Harry and Meghan, but is it time for a republic?

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are spearheading a charm offensive by the British royal family in Australia – and the country can’t get enough of them.

Thousands flocked to meet the newly marriedDuke and Duchess of Sussex when they touched down in Sydney on October 16 for a two-week tour.

Cementing Australia’s special place in the Commonwealth, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, who will be seventh in line to the throne, just as the trip began.

In Sydney, a 98-year-old woman waited in a rope line to meet Harry for the third time. When the prince greeted her like an old friend, she said Meghan was “just what Harry needs.”

During a visit to the city of Dubbo inthedrought-stricken state of New South Wales, groups of school children held signs saying “Dubbo (loves) Harry & Meghan.” In a made-for-camera moment, a five-year-old boy broke ranks to run forward and hug Harry.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are embraced by Luke Vincent, 5, on their arrival in Dubbo, Australia.

But the monarchy could be fighting an uphill battle to win the hearts and minds of the Australian people. The latest polls showincreasing support for an Australian republic and the push is on again to make a final break from the UK.

“The current institution is one which privileges England over other national origins (and) inheritance over hard work … An Australian republic is a positive, democratic and inclusive patriotic step,” Michael Cooney, national director of the Australian Republic Movement, told CNN.

Symbolic relationship

The monarchy has very little actual power in Australia – Queen Elizabeth’s role as head of state is almost entirely symbolic. The UK’s final legislative authority over its former colony ended in 1986.

But the UK royal family has taken pains to keep Australia in the Commonwealth. In the past decade, Queen Elizabeth, her son Prince Charles and her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have all visited multiple times.

Australia isn’t the only country to retain the UK monarch as head of state. New Zealand and Canada are among those still governed under a constitutional monarchy, rather than as a republic.

Jarrod Bleijie, a Queensland politician and member of the Australian Monarchist League, told CNN that though the UK was distant geographically there was still a great connection between the British royals and Australia.

“People have grown up with Prince William and Harry. We feel like we know them because we see so much of them on TV … The royal family have (always) been supportive and love Australia,” he said.

The feeling may not be reciprocated, however. A recent survey by Essential in May found 48% of Australians supported ditching the monarchy in favor of a republic. A separate Newspoll put the number even higher, at 51%.

Royal visits don’t seem to nudge public opinion one way or the other – neither do royal weddings. Even the widely-covered union of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 didn’t budge republican sentiment.

But Bleijie said he felt the royal family would be able to retain sufficient support. “It’s a very modern monarchy,” he said.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Courtney Creative in Wellington, New Zealand, on Monday, October 29.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Abel Tasman National Park on day two of the royal couple's tour of New Zealand.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the military terminal to board an Air Force NH90 helicopter that will take them to Tasman in Wellington on Monday, October 29.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, greet the crowd as they visit the newly unveiled UK war memorial and Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in in Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday, October 28.

Harry and Meghan lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday.

Meghan receives a "hongi," or traditional Maori welcome, on the lawns of Government House in Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday.

Prince Harry congratulates a member of the United States wheelchair basketball team after the team won the gold medal in the finals of the Invictus Games in Sydney on Saturday, October 27.

Harry and Meghan look at a parrot during a visit to Tupou College in Tonga on Friday, October 26.

Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, on Wednesday, October 24.

Harry and Meghan wave from the balcony of the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Fiji, on Tuesday, October 23.

Harry talks with a member of the Butchulla people, who are the traditional owners of Fraser Island, at Pile Valley on Fraser Island, Australia, on Monday, October 22.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, talks with well-wishers along a wharf at Kingfisher Bay, Fraser Island, on October 22.

Prince Harry takes part in an aboriginal cleansing ceremony at Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, talk with schoolchildren in Sydney on Sunday, October 21.

Harry and Meghan cheer on sailors during day two of the Invictus Games in Sydney on Sunday.

Prince Harry meets Australian athlete Ben Yeomans during the Invictus Games Cycling at the Royal Botanical Gardens on Sunday in Sydney.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, attend a lunchtime reception hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.

Harry and Meghan view the Hall of Memory on Saturday, October 20, at the official opening of ANZAC Memorial in Sydney.

Harry and Meghan speak with Governor of New South Wales David Hurley and his wife, Linda Hurley, before attending the opening of the enhanced ANZAC Memorial in Sydney.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, watches as Prince Harry operates a remote-control car at the Invictus Games driving challenge on Saturday, on Cockatoo Island in Sydney.

Harry and Meghan watch a performance during their visit on Friday, October 19, to Macarthur Girls High School near Sydney.

Harry, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Invictus Games representatives climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney.

Harry and Meghan talk with members of OneWave, an awareness group for mental health and well-being, at Bondi Beach, Sydney.

The Duke and Duchess meet Morrison and his wife, Jenny Morrison, at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

Harry hugs a member of the public as he arrives on Thursday, October 18, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia.

Harry and Meghan speak with surf life savers at South Melbourne beach.

Crowds await the arrival of the Duke and Duchess at Government House in Melbourne.

Harry and Meghan visit Albert Park Primary School in Melbourne.

Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau and her husband, Anthony Howard, walk with Harry and Meghan at a reception at Government House in Melbourne.

Meghan holds an Australian rules football during a reception given by Dessau.

Harry and Meghan are greeted by 5-year-old Luke Vincent as they arrive on Wednesday, October 17, in Dubbo, Australia.

Harry and Meghan watch aboriginal dances from under an umbrella at Victoria Park in Dubbo.

Harry and Meghan unveil a new aircraft in the Royal Flying Doctor Service during their visit to Dubbo.

The royal couple visit the Woodleys, a farming family, in drought-stricken Dubbo.

Harry and Meghan meet a koala, named Ruby, and its joey, named Meghan, in honor of the duchess, during a visit on Tuesday, October 16, to Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

Harry and Meghan arrive at the landmark Sydney Opera House.

Harry and Meghan receive Australian baby gifts from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Harry and Meghan pose for a group photo at Admiralty House in Sydney with Cosgrove (front row, sixth from left); his wife, Lynn Cosgrove (fourth from left); and representatives of countries participating in the Invictus Games.

The Duke and Duchess ride in a boat across the Sydney Harbor en route to the opera house.

Harry is greeted by 98-year-old Sydney resident Daphne Dunne at the Sydney Opera House. Dunne had met Harry during his previous visits; the two shared a hug, and Harry introduced her to Meghan.

Harry and Meghan watch the rehearsal of the "Spirit 2018" performance by the Bangarra Dance Theatre company at the Sydney Opera House.

The Duke and Duchess meet an echidna held by Dr. Michelle Shaw during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Echidnas sometimes are known as spiny anteaters.

Well-wishers take photos of Harry and Meghan outside the Sydney Opera House.

The Duke and Duchess hold hands as they walk inside after posing for a photo in Sydney.

In photos: Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's royal tour

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Push for a republic

The first time Australia voted on whether or not to become a republic, the result was an emphatic “no.” In 1999, after years of campaigning by pro-republic politicians and groups, the country went to the polls on whether to change the constitution to remove the British monarch as its head of state.

But squabbling inside the republican camp and disputes over how a new head of state should be elected damaged the ‘yes’ vote. In the end, almost 55% of the country voted against a republic.

Australia has a high bar which any vote to change the constitution must pass. Not only must a majority of Australians vote for it, but a majority of the eight states and territories must approve it as well.

Two decades after the result, however, Australian republicans are willing to try again. Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten has pledged to hold a vote on whether Australia should break with the monarchy within his first term in office. Australians are expected to go to the polls early next year.

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“I’m confident Queen Elizabeth would farewell us with the same affection and good grace she has shown every time a Commonwealth nation has made the decision to cut its ties with the monarchy. We can vote for a republic and still respect Queen Elizabeth,” he said in July 2017.

In fact there have been rumors that the Queen is surprised that Australia hasn’t yet become a republic, and is insulted by suggestions that the country should wait until she passes away.

A new book by British author Robert Hardman, “Queen of the World,” claims her view is that Australia should “get on with it.”

The book quotes an official as saying the palace view was: “You’ve got to name a date because we can’t have this lingering ‘deathwatch.’”

Stability

There is one major factor working in themonarchists’ favor as they attempt to keep Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

With faith in politicians plumbing new lows, as Australia casts a weary eye at its sixth prime minister in a decade, the idea of stability in any form is likely to be appealing.

Australia's incumbent Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull leaves a press conference with his granddaughter Alice after a party meeting in Canberra on August 24, 2018. - Scott Morrison was installed as Australia's seventh prime minister in 11 years on August 24 after a stunning Liberal party revolt instigated by hardline conservatives unseated moderate Malcolm Turnbull. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Related article Australia's sixth PM in a decade. Why does it seem so ungovernable?

“If we allow politicians to start picking presidents or voting for presidents, we’re going to end up with the same instability we’ve seen at federal government level for the past 10 years,” Bleijie said.

“When you ask Australians, they don’t want that.”

Either way, as Harry and Meghan wrap up the latest royal visit, it will be years before there is any chance of Australia severing its ties with Buckingham Palace.

Even if the national vote proposed by Shorten, and backed by pro-republic advocates, was held by 2020 and returned a “yes” vote, a second official referendum would have to be held to make the constitutional change required.

Cooney, the pro-republic advocate, said he believed Australia’s dysfunctional national politics might work in favor of a republic.

“Clearly we need to change something in Australian politics and society … we need to be more democratic. People feel they are locked out of a lot of decisions,” he said. “I think a republic is part of the response to that.”