Keating, Abbott in royal stoush

FORMER prime ministers Paul Keating and Tony Abbott have clashed over what Prince Charles may or may not think about Australia ditching the monarchy.

On the eve of the Commonwealth Games, Mr Keating has claimed the heir to the British throne supports Australia becoming a republic and would welcome not having to “pretend” one day to be the country’s head of state.

But the former Labor leader’s comments have angered monarchist Mr Abbott, who has suggested it’s not true.

“Prince Charles would just want to do his duty and he shouldn’t be verballed by an ex-PM,” the former Liberal prime minister and now rightwing backbencher posted on Twitter.

Another senior right-wing Liberal, Eric Abetz, also rounded on Mr Keating, accusing him of mounting “self-serving and egotistical” arguments for a republic.

“Mr Keating’s musings clearly have no basis in fact and are just a sad feature of the latest Republican push,” the Tasmanian senator said in a statement.

Mr Keating advocated for a republic when he led the country and used an opinion piece in London’s The Sunday Times to again make that argument.

He said he had no doubt that Prince Charles believed Australia “should be free of the British monarchy”.

“Why would he or anyone of his family want to visit Australia pretending to be, or representing its aspirations as, its head of state?” he asked.

He praised Prince Charles and said he’d always be welcome in Australia but added: “The pretence of representing this country and all that it stands for is something he and we could well do without.”

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be officially welcomed at a reception in Brisbane today, before opening the Commonwealth Games.