AUSTRALIA vs THE MONARCHY It's complicated

INSIDE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ROYALS AS THE PM DISCUSSES BECOMING A REPUBLIC

- Kylie Walters

While marking the 50th anniversary of the dismissal of Gough Whitlam as prime minister on November 11, Anthony Albanese admitted he thought that an Australian republic is "common sense".

"The problem is our constitution is very difficult to change and there have been attempts on two occasions to have that change enshrined in our constitution," the current PM told ABC Radio.

Since the First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay in 1788 to form a penal colony at the request of the British government, taking authority away from the land's Indigenous peoples, it is fair to say we've had our ups and downs with the monarchy. Indeed, Australia's relationship status on Facebook would definitely read: "It's complicated." When Queen Victoria's son Prince Alfred carried out the first royal tour here in 1868, not only was there rioting in the streets, but Irishman Henry James O'Farrell shot and wounded him in Australia's first assassination attempt.