None the less, the past 40 years have seen Australia’s gradual transformation to a multi-cultural nation with closer economic ties to south-east Asia than to the “old country”. There are now millions of Australians for whom the old allegiances mean little; and yet they seem content with the current constitutional settlement. Partly this is a consequence of the Queen’s enduring popularity, which is why establishing personal bonds as the Duke and Duchess have done these past few weeks is so important. Who now would bet against King George VII visiting Australia and New Zealand as head of state in years to come, able to look back with affection to his first trip there as a babe in arms?