Monarchy of Papua New Guinea

The monarchy of Papua New Guinea is a system of government where a hereditary monarch serves as the head of state for the country. Since September 8, 2022, King Charles III has been the monarch and head of state of Papua New Guinea. The monarch is shared with 14 other independent countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, but each country's monarchy works separately.

In Papua New Guinea, the monarch is officially called the King of Papua New Guinea. The monarch does public and private duties at home and abroad as a representative of the nation.

All executive authority is formally held by the monarch, but this power comes from the people of Papua New Guinea. The monarch does not directly govern. Most powers are used by elected members of parliament, the National Executive Council, and judges. The main role of the Crown today is to help ensure stable and continuous government. Many of the monarch’s duties are carried out by the governor-general of Papua New Guinea, who acts as the monarch’s representative.

History

The first Europeans tried to settle near Manokwari in Indonesia in 1793. Later, the Dutch claimed the western part of the island in 1828, calling it part of the Dutch East Indies. Germany took control of the northeast part in 1884, naming it German New Guinea. That same year, Britain claimed the southern coast as British New Guinea. In 1902, control passed to Australia, which began ruling it in 1906.

During World War I, Australia took over the German areas. In 1945, Australia combined all its parts into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. By 1973, Papua New Guinea was mostly self-governing, and it became fully independent on September 16, 1975.

Road to independent monarchy

In 1974, Queen Elizabeth II of Australia visited as Papua New Guinea moved toward independence. At first, leaders planned to become a republic. But in May 1975, the government decided to keep the Queen as head of state. They believed this would help the new country feel secure during its early years. The Queen accepted the role right away. Papua New Guinea was the first country to ask the Queen to be its monarch.

At independence in 1975, the Queen was represented by her son, Charles, Prince of Wales (later Charles III). The new nation’s first parliament opened that same day.

The Papua New Guinean Crown and its aspects

Papua New Guinea is one of fifteen countries that share a single monarch with other nations in the Commonwealth of Nations. Each country, including Papua New Guinea, is completely independent. The monarch is represented in Papua New Guinea by a person called the governor-general.

Since Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975, the role of the monarch has been special to Papua New Guinea, separate from the monarch's role in other countries. This means the monarchy is not just a British tradition but a part of Papua New Guinea's own government. For example, the monarch uses special symbols and titles for Papua New Guinea and only Papua New Guinea's government leaders can give advice to the monarch about the country.

When Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975, the Constitution gave Elizabeth II special titles as the Head of State of Papua New Guinea. After Charles III became the monarch, his title became: Charles III, King of Papua New Guinea and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. This title shows that Papua New Guinea is its own independent monarchy and also part of the group of countries that share the same monarch.

People in Papua New Guinea have special names for the monarch in their own language, Tok Pisin. Elizabeth II was called Misis Kwin ("Mrs. Queen"), Mama Kwin, Sina Bada, Big Mum, and Mama belong big family.

As the symbol of the state, the monarch is important for people to show their loyalty. In Papua New Guinea, the promise of loyalty is:

"I, (name), do swear that I will well and truly serve and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

The rules for who becomes the next monarch are found in laws from the United Kingdom. These rules state that the monarch must be a descendant of Sophia, Electress of Hanover and cannot be a Roman Catholic. When a monarch passes away or steps down, the next in line becomes monarch right away, without any extra steps. After this, there is usually a time of mourning, and flags are lowered to show respect.

Constitutional role

Main article: Constitution of Papua New Guinea

The Constitution of Papua New Guinea is a single document that guides the country's laws and government. It includes rules from important laws, traditions, and local customs. Papua New Guinea has a system where the monarch and governor-general play a role in the government, but they do not make political decisions.

In Papua New Guinea, the power comes from the people, not just the monarch. The monarch's main job is to act as the head of state, but most daily tasks are done by the governor-general, who represents the monarch. The governor-general is chosen by the monarch based on who most members of Parliament support. The governor-general helps keep the government stable.

The Constitution gives the monarch some special powers, but these are mostly used only in very unusual situations. Mostly, the governor-general carries out the monarch's duties, like appointing leaders and making sure the government runs smoothly. The governor-general also helps with international agreements and represents Papua New Guinea to other countries.

Executive

The Constitution says that the power to govern is held by the Crown, which means the head of state or the governor-general. Papua New Guinea has a system where the government is chosen by the people and must follow what Parliament says. The main job of the Crown is to choose the prime minister, who leads the government.

The role of the monarch and the governor-general is mostly symbolic. They represent the authority that allows the government to work. The actual decisions about running the country are made by the prime minister and the National Executive Council. They decide things like calling elections and leading the country's military.

The governor-general helps make sure the government stays stable by choosing the prime minister after elections. They also appoint other leaders based on the prime minister's advice. The monarch stays informed about important government actions through regular updates.

Parliament

In Papua New Guinea, the power to make laws belongs to the people, not the head of state. The National Parliament makes all the laws. The head of state allows Parliament to meet and represents its authority with a special symbol called a mace.

The governor-general, acting for the head of state, calls Parliament to meet, stops meetings, and can dissolve Parliament to call new elections. The governor-general also opens new sessions of Parliament and tells members about the government's plans for new laws. Usually, the governor-general follows the prime minister's advice.

Unlike in some other countries, the monarch does not officially approve laws in Papua New Guinea. Laws become official when the speaker of Parliament signs them. However, the head of state can sometimes send a law back to Parliament to consider changes.

Courts

The courts in Papua New Guinea are separate from the monarch. The Supreme Court and lower courts handle judicial matters. The governor-general appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the head of state. The head of state can also forgive crimes against the government, either before, during, or after a trial, based on advice from the National Executive Council.

Cultural role

The Crown and Honours

The monarch gives out awards and honours in Papua New Guinea. The government often decides who gets these awards. Papua New Guinea made its own award system in 2005. The monarch is the head of this system, and the governor-general helps to manage it.

The Crown and the Defence Force

The Defence Force shows the Crown in its symbols and uniforms. Ships in the navy are called HMPNGS, meaning His Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship. Defence Force members have joined royal events, like celebrations for important moments in the monarchy.

The Crown and the Constabulary

The police force is called the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. The Crown appears on its badges and symbols.

The Crown and Tok Pisin

In Tok Pisin, the queen was called Misis Kwin. Members of the royal family have spoken Tok Pisin during visits to Papua New Guinea. They used simple phrases to connect with people.

Royal symbols

The King's Birthday is a holiday in Papua New Guinea. Celebrations include sports, fireworks, and giving out medals for good work.

Artworks

Papua New Guinea artists have painted pictures of the monarch. One painting shows the queen wearing special traditional headgear. Other paintings have shown the queen in local styles.

Royal visits

Royal family members have visited Papua New Guinea many times. These visits have included opening events, meeting people, and joining celebrations. The visits help to strengthen the relationship between the monarchy and Papua New Guinea.

Views on the monarchy

Many people in Papua New Guinea respect the monarchy. In 2022, during a celebration for Queen Elizabeth II, the Governor-General said that people were "honoured and proud" to have her as their head of state.

There have been talks about changing the system to have a president instead, but leaders like Prime Minister James Marape have said that the monarchy is important. They feel it helps bring stability and connects to their traditional ways of leadership.

List of Papua New Guinean monarchs