The royal couple and their bouncing Prince George touched down in New Zealand yesterday on the first leg of an Australasian tour that will also take in Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

No doubt many Bathurst people will be among the thousands trying to catch a glimpse of the young family that has breathed new life into the monarchy, and you can expect to see plenty of photos and footage of the tour in every national newspaper and TV news program.

But will their visit have a long-lasting impact on Australia’s attitudes towards the monarchy? Probably not.

The marriage of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge delivered a surge in popularity for the royal family in Australia even before the birth of their son, taking over the hands-on charm that Princess Diana had previously brought to the role.

Their easy nature when mixing with crowds – particularly children – suddenly made the royal family fashionable again.

But while their popularity has given a real boost to the cause of monarchists within Australian, the reaction to prime minister Tony Abbott’s announcement last week that he would be introducing the titles of knight and dame showed that most in this country believe the royal family is losing its relevance.

After the republic referendum was defeated in 1999, there has been a general feeling that nothing more should be done on the issue until Queen Elizabeth II leaves the throne.

And the popularity of Kate and William has undoubtedly taken the sting out of the republican push for now. But it will return.

We will always be happy to welcome the royal family and will enjoy playing host to a delightful young family.

But a move to a republic remains a question of when, not if, in Australia.

And no amount of smiling TV clips will change that.