Harry and Meghan put paid to republican plan

AS LITTLE as a week ago, I was a confirmed 85- year- old lifelong republican but that was before Harry and his wife Meghan came on the scene.

His brother Prince William first led the changing of the guard, but in my books Harry has finally put the republican movement to bed, at least while he, and William to a lesser extent, live.

Only another royal scandal could possibly change the royal status quo and I doubt we will see the republican drum again being beaten in Australian politics for at least a generation or two.

While I can never envisage Harry accepting a crown of his own volution, he will probably have a roving ambassadorial role into which he and Meghan will fit perfectly, if his recent Australian tour is any guide.

But while Harry and Meghan are one reason for retaining the status quo, another much more pressing reason is the everincreasing possibility of a takeover of our elected government by extremist politics.

Therein lies the real reason why we must maintain our vigilance and ties with the monarchy.

The alternative could be a catastrophe that would change the face of our nation forever.

Despite some negativity from the republican movement, we cannot afford the associated risks of this step into the unknown.