I recently acquired a copy of the above book, but haven't had the time to start reading it properly. It does appear to be one of the better books on the issue, with a proper analysis of the monarchy's future. While it's written with a pro-monarchy slant, and in the context of Great Britain (it only mentions in passing that the Queen is also head of state of 16 other Commonwealth countries - that's how much we matter to the monarchy), the book looks closely at the questions arising from Prince Charles succession to the throne, and the future of the monarchy. It even takes a look at the "alternative to the monarchy", that is, a republic.

The Globe and Mail reports that the Governor General of Canada is visiting France, where the French media are referring to her as the "almost Queen of Canada". Meanwhile, the Governor General has caused controversy at home by suggesting to the French President that France should 'look beyod' French speaking Quebec to other Francophone communities in Canada.

Roy Morgan research has released a poll on republican sentiment in Australia, finding 45% of those surveyed aged 18 and over support a republic, with 42% supporting the monarchy. Support for a republic has decreased by 6% from the 2005 poll, when 51% of those surveyed support a republic.

The Gisborne Herald has an interesting letter to the editor today regarding republicanism in Australia:

Kevin Rudd is certainly the "action man" of Australian politics. He has just brought hundreds of Australian leaders, in a myriad of fields, to his 2020 Australian summit and has promised to deal with many of their recommendations. Of course, one of his most recent moves has been to appoint the first woman Governor General of Australia who takes office soon for a period of five years. She may be the last Governor General, for Kevin Rudd is an ardent Republican.

...for the United States. The New Zealand Herald reports' a poll of New Zealanders support for the candidates for the US election.

New Zealand has won an award for our commitment to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Brilliant - except for some reason the representative of our head of state, who is selected by birth, gender, and religion, decided to say this:

"New Zealand is committed to the principle that everyone is born equal in dignity and worth."

- Anand Satyanand, Governor-General of New Zealand

...but some are born more equal than others, it seems.

With one Australian poll putting support for a republic as high as 69%, the supporters of the status quo are pulling out all sorts of argument to strengthen their case. Malcolm Mackerras, a patron of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, writes in The Canberra Times that a second republic referendum will be defeated, with one of his reasons being that a direct election model will be proposed:

"...if they [the republicans] go for popular election of the president all the objections to that model will come to the fore."

The Manukau Courier reports that His Excellency Anand Satyanand, the Governor-General, is to reveal a statue for former Prime Minister David Lange in August. It not surprising that the current Governor-General is patron of the David Lange Memorial Trust - as the article notes, His Excellency was friends with the former Prime Minister, and helped David Lange campaign for office back at the 1975 election.

What's interesting is that the proponents of the status quo never fail to mention that the Governor-General "non-partisan". That clearly is not the case when the Governor-General is friends with a former Prime Minister and once campaigned on their behalf.