Queen Elizabeth II may be Australia’s head of state but grandson and future heir to the British throne Prince William would never do as governor-general, according to Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

A new book published by Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, titled “The Diana Chronicles,” speculates that the late princess’s elder son, William, may wish to become Australia’s next governor-general.

The governor-general represents the British monarch in the constitution, acting as Australia’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the country’s defense forces. Prince Charles himself had given the position some thought, back in the 1980s.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Australian radio on Friday: “We have for a long time embraced the idea that the person who occupies that post should be in every way an Australian citizen.”

Kevin Rudd, leader of the opposition Labor Party and in strong favor of an Australian republic, commented that Prince William’s appointment to a five-year vice-regal role would mean “party, party, party.”

“I think Australia overall is probably much better at exporting royals like Princess Mary (of Denmark) than importing royals,” Rudd told reporters. “When it comes to Prince William, he's 25 years old; I think it would be party, party, party out at Yarralumla. I probably don't think it's the right way to go.”

Yarralumla is the governor-general’s residence in Canberra.