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Adebayo, the monarchy in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, doesn't have anywhere near the presence and pageantry it has in Britain. Enough people enjoy it; the cost is relatively low and is not viewed as inconvenient or an obstacle to governance.

Under PM John Key, New Zealand went through the motions of replacing the national flag (without the Union Jack in the corner), but the country failed to decide on a design and color.

Australia has had closer brushes with the republic notion. One was when PM, Gough Whitlam, was fired by the Queen's Governor General, which was more a ploy of the opposition Liberal Party than the House of Windsor. Another was when PM, Bob Hawke, came into office. He pushed for Australia to become a republic but recalculated after meeting the Queen and sharing their mutual love of horse racing.

Best to you.

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Kerry Landon-Lane

OP-ED writer, designer and artist. Most recently returned to architecture and deliberately presents the subject void of buildings.