Anthony Albanese has become one of the first world leaders to meet King Charles III ahead of his coronation, with the prime minister declaring he will swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch.
During an interview with Sky News Australia presenter Piers Morgan, which was broadcast early on Wednesday (AEDT), Albanese - a staunch republican - said he wanted Australia to have its own head of state.
"I think Australians should have their own head of state and I'm of the view that that should be an appointed head of state," he said.
"There should be some process whereby our democratically-elected institutions, and the House of the Representatives and the Senate have say in that.
"One of the things that has held back that change in Australia is the failure to agree on a way forward."
In the lead-up to the interview, Morgan tweeted that Albanese would swear the oath of allegiance to King Charles III during the coronation service in Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
The Aussie PM was one of the first world leaders to arrive in London for the coronation and met the monarch during a private audience on Tuesday (AEDT).
The last time the pair met was last year in the UK when Albanese attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
"It was pleasure to meet King Charles III again at Buckingham Palace, and an honour to represent Australia at his Coronation," Albanese tweeted.
The PM also made a formal invitation for the King and Queen Camilla to visit Australia at a convenient time.
Albanese had told him in the interview that he would swear the oath of allegiance to King Charles III during the coronation service in Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
In a break with royal tradition, Australians and citizens of other Commonwealth countries will be invited to actively be involved in such a ceremony.
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