Union Jack ban for Charles sign of desperation

"Attempts to ban the use of Union Jacks during Prince Charles tour of Aotearoa shows the British monarchy's desperation to not be seen as an irrelevant, foreign institution" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.

The Department of Internal Affairs has sent an e-mail to organisers of events for Prince Charles' tour in November stating that there is to be "no use of Union Jacks or bunting."

"The department's clarification of this edict leaves no doubt what they're attempting to do - they say they want the visit to be about being a 'traditional Kiwi'. In that case they should make Charles don gumboots, a black singlet and maybe carry a bumble bee, just to make sure we get the point."

"Only the Queen has an official New Zealand title. Everyone knows the monarchy is a British institution. While legally the Crown is today the New Zealand Crown, symbolically and practically it's a British institution. That's why people put up Union Jacks and bunting when British Royals come here. The very fact Charles is visiting New Zealand goes to show the monarchy isn't ours" concluded Mr Holden.
ENDS

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