A royal squabble has developed in Australia over the decision to cancel the lighting of the Sydney Opera House to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation.
The sails of the architectural wonder on Sydney Harbour are colored for special occasions ranging from WorldPride to the anniversary of the Ukraine invasion and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The soaring arcs of the iconic 50-year-old edifice, however, were left dark for Saturday’s coronation.
Chris Minns, the state premier of New South Wales, claimed he had canceled his predecessors’ intentions to light up the structure for Charles, Australia’s head of state.
“I would like to keep it for Australia and Australians and moments of sacrifice and heroism for the country, or when there’s an important international event in Sydney,” Minns told a radio interviewer on Monday.
The premier said the building’s sails had been illuminated 70 times last year — compared with 23 times a decade earlier — at an estimated cost of Aus$80,000-100,000 (US$54,000-67,000) for each occasion.
People had many places to mark the coronation including on television, he told Sydney’s 2GB radio.
“The event was not taking place in Sydney, it was taking place in London,” Minns said.
“Of course, I respect the new king but I am mindful of where and when we spend taxpayer money.”
Minns became premier on March 25 after his Labor Party won the state elections.
