PRINCE Charles regrets - or maybe doesn’t - that he won’t be enjoying an evening a chat with republican activists during his April Australian visit.

The heir to the throne has rejected a cheeky invitation to explain why he should be our next head of state.

The invitation accompanied by assurances of a fair and warm exchange of views came from the Australian Republican Movement.

And the republicans are not pleased with the royal snub to what they insist was a sincere offer of a right-of-reply to their demands for an Australian in the job.

“This is a great shame and says a great deal,” ARM national director. Michael Cooney told

news.com.au.

The Prince of Wales and wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will instead be spending some time with committed republicans Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten at the Commonwealth Games, but duties could prevent a discussion of contentious constitutional change.

“Both leaders have addressed us in the past 18 months and put their support for an Australian

republic firmly on the public record,” said Mr. Cooney.

“And it is equally a matter of public record that the Queen and the Prince of Wales have always made it clear they believe the future of the monarchy in Australia is for the Australian people to decide.

“Given this, we asked the Prince to address a simple question: Why he, and not an

Australian, should be Australia’s next head of state.

“It appears the Prince is unable to answer this question.”

The pair will be busy in their six-day tour officiating at the Games on the Gold Coast, while the Prince will tour Queensland regional centres before flying out on April 10.

We don’t know how his office explained there was no room for a speech to republicans as the ARM was asked to keep the contents of the Prince’s response confidential.

But we know how the invitation was put.

“I can assure your Royal Highnesses of the warmest of greetings and the fairest of hearings,” ARM chairman Peter FitzSimmons wrote to Clarence House last December.

Mr FitzSimons said Prime Minister Turnbull’s insistence no change would occur during the reign of the Queen “risks a reflection on the person of the reigning monarch”.

Australia should prepare for 'life without Elizabeth' Australia should prepare for 'life without Elizabeth'

He said it was “only reasonable” to hear from Charles.

“By right of succession Your Royal Highness is Australia’s next head of state...,” said the ARM invitation.

“For this reason we would be delighted to host Your Royal Highness for an address, at any

convenient time during the coming visit, on the topic of why you, and not an Australian, should be Australia’s next head of state.”

ARM director Mr Cooney said perhaps Australia monarchists could answer the question which

can’t be put to the Prince?

“Without constitutional change, there will be a once-in-a-lifetime transition and a new King of Australia within a few years.

“Yet today, our people know nothing about what this change will look like.

“The silence of the man who will become Australia’s head of state about why he should have the job is hardly reassuring.”