Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told the ABC that he believes Charles III will be a highly engaged King of Australia, describing him as "very interested in what's happening" in the country.
Mr Albanese made the comments in a sit-down interview with the ABC in London ahead of the coronation on Saturday.
The prime minister said he could not disclose what he discussed in his meeting this week with the King due to protocols, but said Charles was knowledgeable about the issues that Australia was currently dealing with.
"He of course has a long record of interest in issues such as climate change, on issues relating to Australia's Indigenous people, on issues across the full range, particularly of the environment, and that remains the case, " Mr Albanese said.
The prime minister said he and the King shared a common interest in issues around the urban economy.
"He's interested in getting that social mix, getting environmentally sustainable design and in the nature of our cities. And I think he will continue to have that engagement as the King," he said.
Mr Albanese is a lifelong republican, but he said he would be following all the royal protocols at the coronation in a respectful manner.
"I want to see an Australian as Australia's head of state. That doesn't mean that you can not have respect for the institution, which is the system of government that we have," he said.
"I believe as Australian prime minister, I have a particular responsibility to represent the nation in a way that respects the constitutional arrangements which are there, and I certainly will undertake that."
Last week it was announced that the Archbishop of Canterbury would ask "all who desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere [to] say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."
Mr Albanese said he held no qualms about making the pledge to a sovereign he ultimately does not believe should be Australia's head of state.
"People expect me to not come to the King's coronation in order to create a controversy," Mr Albanese said.
"I'll follow protocol just as I followed protocol with Her Majesty's death last year. And I think Australians respected that."
To those surprised to see the self-professed "life-long republican" pledging his allegiance to not only the King, but his "heirs and successors" which includes Prince Andrew, Mr Albanese said it was simply part and parcel of his role as prime minister to reflect the "constitutional arrangements" of the country.
"As a republican, I think at some stage that will change when Australia is ready for that. But … that's a matter for the Australian people."
Mr Albanese said he regarded it as a great privilege to be present at the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
"It's a moment in history, isn't it? In our lifetime, this is the first time there's been a transition of power," Mr Albanese said.
"It will be a historic moment, and I regard it as a great privilege … to be present at Westminster Abbey when it occurs."
