Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, both strong supporters of an Australian republic, have held private meetings with Prince Charles but only one mentioned the R word.
That wasn't Mr Turnbull, although he told reporters beforehand that Prince Charles could well become King of Australia.
"If the Queen's reign comes to an end and the constitution is in the form it is today, Prince Charles will become our head of state," he said.
In their meeting, Mr Turnbull and the prince discussed his special interest in cities and planning, his philanthropic works and climate change in the lead-up to the Paris conference next month.
Mr Shorten and Prince Charles talked of climate change and the national disability insurance scheme.
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At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr Shorten made clear his support for an Australian republic but said he looked forward to welcoming him back to Australia as King of England.
Exploiting the moment, a new poll commissioned by the Australian Republican Movement, shows only 27 per cent support for Prince Charles becoming King of Australia. Fifty-one per cent of voters support replacing the monarch with an Australian citizen.
The leader meetings capped a busy day in the national capital for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, marked by grey skies, rain and omni-present umbrellas, modest crowds and a frenetic schedule.
Arriving in Canberra after spending Tuesday in South Australia, the royal couple went straight to the Australian War Memorial for the Remembrance Day ceremony, laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and placing poppies on the roll of honour before signing the visitors' book.
Their Royal Highnesses were unfazed by the rain. Chatting to members of the crowd after the service, Camilla admitted it was "very British weather" while Charles labelled it a blessing.
"I know how badly you needed it," he said.
"South Australia was totally dry yesterday."
Then the royals parted company, with Charles inspecting indigenous artworks at the Australian National Museum and Camilla visiting Canberra's truffle farm.
Braving a Canberra downpour Camilla and the prime minister's wife Lucy Turnbull were treated to a truffle hunting demonstration in which black labrador Samson weaved his way around trees to detect a specially hidden black truffle.
At the museum Prince Charles tried his hand at making a traditional basket under supervision of indigenous basket-maker Abe Muriata and the watchful eye of a group of children from North Ainslie Primary.
Then at Government House, Prince Charles met representatives of the wounded soldier support group Soldier On plus wounded veterans including former soldier Michael Lyddiard and foreign affairs official David Savage, both wounded by insurgent improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
The royal couple also performed the obligatory tree planting at the national arboretum.
