The travelling “circus” isn’t what it once was, though the royal correspondents reject the term. “There’s always interest, but it’s not a circus,” says Jobson. “There are no gymnasts or performing clowns.”
His colleague Chris Ship, royal editor for television station ITV, says reporters on the royal round are impartial. “If there is bad news to report, dare I say it about the King’s brother, Prince Andrew, we will report it,” Ship says. And that goes for any member of the royal family.”
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“They have no say who the royal editor of any particular publication is going to be […] some people think, oh, how can you cover the royal family and not support them? Well, it’s like saying you can only be a political correspondent if you vote Labor or Liberal.”
On this trip, Charles reportedly flew commercially to Singapore. He will fly to Sydney on an official military jet, to be welcomed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday evening at 8.30pm while reporters will make their own way to Australia.
“Normally when you travel with [royals], you get a little bit more access,” says Ship.
Interviews are mostly out of the question now. Charles’s predecessor didn’t do any during her entire reign. “One-on-one time happens very rarely, but you sometimes get a chat with the King or Queen, if the opportunity allows, but never interviews,” Ship says. “They’re just sort of conversations about the events of the day or the particular tour that you’re on.”
With those unavailable, it is the big republic question that will reign.
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