DROPPING the monarch’s image on banknotes in Australia does not mean that the country has turned against the Royals, according to a leading expert.

Michael Cole told GB News: “This is not a slap in the face to King Charles but rather it’s a boost for the First Nations in Australia.

“Instead of the monarch’s head, we’ll be seeing on Australian $5 notes key figures from the Aboriginal history, the indigenous peoples of Australia and there are several of them that will be on there.

“So it’s not a setback for the monarchy and it’s not anything to do with Australian republicanism, which is quite a strong thing.

He told Mark Longhurst: “Bear in mind that it wasn’t until 1960 that the Queen’s face appeared on British banknotes and she’d been on the throne for eight years.

“Then, it was just the facade of the Bank of England on the one pound note and there was just a copperplate script on the big white fibres.

“And of course up in Scotland where there are three banks that are allowed to issue banknotes and the monarch very rarely appears.

“There have been exceptions but since George the fourth in the early days of the 19th century, the monarch hasn’t been on Scottish banknotes.

“There was an exception at the time of the Golden Jubilee when there was a special note issued which did of course depict Her Majesty the Queen the late Queen.”

Asked about the link between Britain and Australia, he said: “Is it still now a friendly cousin? Absolutely. And the coins will bear the image of King Charles and all those coins will stay in circulation.

“The higher denomination notes in Australia didn’t ever carry the monarch’s image.

“Republicanism in Australia, it comes and goes. It is there, very much so, but the Australians have always come to decide that they are better sticking with the constitutional monarchy, which has served them pretty well to date, rather than go through the trauma and divisive process of electing a president which might bring more problems.

“We all love the country. We all think it’s fantastic. And there is that kinship that blood is thicker than water.”

Mr Cole added: “The Prince and Princess of Wales are going there fairly soon and I think they may even be taking the children. That will be big news and I think it will go down very well.

“Perhaps not as huge as it was when William’s mother Princess Diana went there, but I think there is tremendous affection and those ties that bind are very important.

“Let’s hope the ties continue to bind because we love the Australians, except when we’re playing them at cricket.”