I am indebted to my father in
law, Noel, for bringing to my attention an item in The Australian newspaper from last Friday. The item, an article by former Federal MP
Barry Cohen headed “Kiss me Kate and I’ll vote Royal”, has as its subtitle
‘There’s something about the Duchess of Cambridge that Prince Philip doesn’t
have’. Cohen is an avowed republican but
astute enough to realise what a great PR job Kate Middleton and royal hubby
Wills are doing for the monarchist cause.
According to Cohen “They are the right people at the right time. For the first time I am tempted to vote for
the monarchy. It goes against every
rational idea I have ever had about the monarchy but who can resist Kate?” He assesses that “..these two royals ...have
guaranteed the monarchy will last at least another century..”.
Cohen draws a comparison between Kate and royal
husband Wills with Prince Philip and royal spouse Queen Elizabeth 11, making some interesting
observations.
What was particularly
interesting were some anecdotes by Cohen concerning comments by Philip about
Whitlam-era Australian political figures.
My father in law was a senior
public servant during those years, his career including a stint as Secretary to the
Executive Council. This required him to submit government matters (including Cabinet items) to the Governor General, Sir John Kerr, for approval. He therefore dealt with the prominent political figures of the day and was subpoenaed to give evidence at the
Royal Commission that looked into the Khemlani Loans Affair.
Before looking at Cohen’s
comments, a cast of players is helpful:
My father in law, Noel.
Barry Cohen
Barry Cohen:
Cohen was the federal member for
the seat of Robertson from 1969 until his retirement before
the 1990 election. Following the Australian Labor party’s win under Bob
Hawke at the 1983 election, he was Minister for Home Affairs and the
Environment from 1983 to 1984 and then Minsiter for Arts, Heritage
and Environment until 1987.
Philip
Prince Philip:
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
(1921 - ) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth 11.
Although Philip was born in Greece and was a prince of Greece, the Greek
royal family was exiled when he was a child.
He was educated in Germany, England and Scotland and joined the British
Royal Navy in 1939. From that year he
also began corresponding with 13 year old Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King
George V!, his second cousin. Philip
served with the Mediterranean and Pacific fleets during World War 11 and
married Elizabeth in 1947 (photo above).
He converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, became a naturalised
British subject and adopted the surname Mountbatten.
He is renowned for inappropriate
comments and gaffes:
Gough Whitlam:
Edward Gough Whitlam (1916 - )
was the 21st Prime Minister of Australia, serving in that office
between 1972 and 1975, until dismissed by the Queen’s appointed representative
in Australia, the Governor-General Sir John Kerr. He is the only Prime Minister to have been
sacked by the monarch. (Pictured above
is Gough Whitlam, standing on the steps of parliament House in 1975 whilst the
proclamation dismissing his government is read).
Al Grassby
Al Grassby:
Albert Jaime Grassby (1926-2005)
was an Australian politician of Spanish-Irish descent who was Minister for
Immigration in the Whitlam government.
Known as the father of Australian multiculturalism, he initiated
sweeping reforms in immigration and human rights. Renowned for colourfully outrageous clothing,
The Age commented as part of the report on his death in 2005:
“It was to Grassby's eternal
credit that, through political vision, his wit and some outrageous stunts, he
turned this into a plus, helping to bury the discredited White Australia policy
of the Menzies era. Grassby literally
wore his politics on his sleeve - one that, often as not, was part of a purple
or gold safari suit. Or, if the suit was conventional, there would be a wild
tie. He called it his "Riverina
rig", and it carved an eye-straining sartorial swathe through Canberra,
about as subtle in the corridors of power as Sir Les Patterson at a cocktail
party.”
The following items are from Barry Cohen's article:
Philip was no friend of the Left,
British or Australian. He was reported
as having described Gough Whitlam as “that socialist arsehole”. I rang seeking Gough’s view of the duke. After a prolonged pause came the breathy
response, “He married well.”
One particularly memorable
meeting occurred during Gough’s reign. A
few of us were talking to Prince Philip when the ubiquitous and colourful Al
Grassby joined us in a cacophony of colour that
That lifted bad taste to an art
form. Philip couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and inquired sotto
voce: “Any feelthy pictures?”
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