The King has been dealt a “slap in the face” as top-tier politicians in Australia have declined to meet him in the country’s capital next week. The King and Queen are set to embark on their nine-day tour of Australia this Friday, attending various events aimed at strengthening community relations and promoting their passion projects such as environmental conservation and supporting domestic violence charities.

However, not a single State Premier will be present to welcome Charles and Camilla at a reception in Canberra on October 21, despite all being invited. The King is scheduled to address the event attended by political and community leaders, as well as distinguished Australians who have excelled in areas including arts, culture, sport, and health.

Victoria state Premier Jacinta Allan today joined the list of those who have declined the opportunity to welcome the Royal couple Down Under. Bev McArthur, spokesperson for the pro-royal Australian Monarchists League, labelled the development a “slap in the face” for the Royal family.

“All premiers and ministers have sworn allegiance to our monarch, Charles III, and it is a monumental insult that they now spit in his hand extended in friendship,” she told the Herald Sun. “This is a historic opportunity to unite Australia, to focus on charitable work and to give back to communities. Yet our immature politicians are clearly choosing to play politics.”

A series of convenient excuses have emerged from various state leaders regarding their attendance at a key event during King Charles’ visit, with Queensland’s Steven Miles claiming he’s busy with his election campaign, reports the Mirror

A representative for Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook cited “other commitments”, while South Australian leader Peter Malinauskas and New South Wales’ Chris Minns have excused themselves due to prior engagements, although Minns plans to attend other events with His Majesty.

Tasmania’s Jeremy Rockliff will be on a US trade trip, while Ben Carroll of Victoria has delegated to parliamentary secretary Nick Staikos to represent him, in what appears to be a collective cold shoulder towards the Monarchy.

These developments come as fresh polls reveal that Australian support for becoming a republic has dipped even further under King Charles’ rule, significantly trailing the levels seen in 1999’s referendum. According to the Sunday Mail, a study notes improved local sentiments towards the King and Queen Camilla, yet only 33% of those polled by NewsCorp’s Pulse of Australia now back a republican shift, compared with 39.4% previously voting in favour.

Royal insiders have labelled the recent developments as “deeply unprofessional”, though they remain confident it wont impact the imminent tour. Speaking about the anticipation of the visit, one source revealed: “The King and Queen are incredibly excited to visit Australia and Samoa and are very much looking forward to getting out and meeting as many people as possible during their visit.”

It has been highlighted that despite his health struggles, the King has dedicated himself to his cancer treatments, preparing rigorously for his overseas journey.

King Charles III, battling cancer diagnosed in February, has diligently kept up with his treatment regime in London, and Royal physicians have now given him the all-clear to temporarily halt the weekly sessions while touring abroad.

This Australian trip marks the monarch’s 17th to the nation, and his maiden venture to one of his 14 realms, since his accession to the throne in September 2022.

Amidst political discourse, Brad Rowswell, a Liberal Party opposition member in Victoria, discloses that he implored Ms Allan back in May to avoid diminishing the significance of the Royal couple’s visit, accentuating the essentials of leadership that sometimes necessitates setting personal biases aside for the greater good.

Following years of impartiality on matters of independence, it is apparebt that the King has communicated to advocates of the Australian republic that he would remain impartial if the country ever votes to remove him as head of state. On the cusp of their Australian tour, the ARM sought a dialogue with Buckingham Palace, to which the King responded, stressing that it was a “matter for the Australian public” to resolve.

Mr Rowswell has sharply criticised the State leader for what he sees as leadership errors, particularly in light of Victoria’s axing of its pledge to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This decision leaves taxpayers facing a hefty sum as another city scrambles to take over at the eleventh hour, with the fate of the Games hanging by a thread.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Mr Rowswell remarked: “Sometimes, leadership requires putting personal prejudice aside in the interests of the greater good.”

He continued to lambast the Premier’s choice to send a junior Labor MP to meet King Charles, stating, “Premier Allan represents a state that wholeheartedly embraces and supports King Charles as our head of state. Sending a junior Labor MP to represent the Premier on this occasion doesn’t pass the Pimm’s test.

“The decent and respectful thing to do would be to jump on a plane and give King Charles a warm Victorian welcome, or is she just too embarrassed to do so after her Commonwealth Games debacle?”

Buckingham Palace has yet to reply.