This is Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas Message to the Commonwealth.
This is the 50th Christmas Message, since the Queen ascended to the throne in February 1952. [Read more…]
The Lady’s Not For Abdicating: Queen Vows To Remain On The Throne
Apr 29, 2002
The Queen has vowed to remain on the throne.
The Queen was commenting on the idea of change in the light of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in honour of her 50 years on the throne.
Her daughter, Princess Anne, defended her mother and praised the Queen’s caring nature. [Read more…]
The Queen Comments On The Death Of Her Mother
Apr 08, 2002
The Queen has made a televised Address to the Nation on the eve of the funeral of her mother.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, died on March 30, aged 101.
The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey tomorrow. [Read more…]
Move With The Times To Remain Relevant, Queen Tells CHOGM
Mar 02, 2002
Australia’s Head of State, the British Queen Elizabeth II, speaking in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, has officially opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland.
- Listen to the Queen’s speech (7m)
- Listen to Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General (7m)
- Listen to the opening music (16m)
- Listen to Waltzing Matilda (3m)
Text of Queen Elizabeth II’s speech at the opening of CHOGM.
Mr Prime Minister, Mr Secretary General, President Mbeki, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be with you today in Coolum. I am delighted that this meeting takes place in Australia, one of the Commonwealth’s founding members. I know it was originally planned to coincide with the Centenary of Federation last year, but that is still recent enough for us to congratulate the people of this country on that major milestone in their history. May I thank you, Mr Prime Minister, for the warm welcome we have all received in Australia.
May I also express my best wishes to you, Mr Secretary General, as you embark on your important responsibilities at this your first Heads of Government Meeting in your present post, although you are of course no stranger to Commonwealth meetings. [Read more…]
Sir William Deane’s Speech On the Centenary of the Australian Parliament
May 09, 2001
The Governor-General, Sir William Deane, presided at the opening of the Commemorative Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliament.
The joint sitting of the Parliament took place in Melbourne’s Exhibition Building.
The Centenary of Federation joint sitting took place one hundred years to the day since the First Commonwealth Parliament met in 1901.
The First Parliament met in Melbourne’s Parliament House until it moved to Canberra in 1927.
During that time – 1901-1927 – the Victorian Parliament met in the Exhibition Building.
[Read more…]
Unemployed Englishman Turns 50 – Mum Throws Party
Nov 14, 1998
The Prince of Wales turned 50 on November 14, 1998 and the Queen hosted a birthday reception at Buckingham Palace.
Earlier in the week, the Prince Of Wales web-site was officially opened.
The Prince’s full title is Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland.
Between January and September 1966, Prince Charles was an exchange student at Timbertop, the bush retreat of the Geelong Grammar School in Victoria.
Later, following his marriage to Lady Diana Frances Spencer on July 29, 1981, it was rumoured that the Prince might be appointed Governor-General of Australia, but this did not eventuate.
Republican sentiment in Australia makes any future royal appointment impossible to conceive.
New Parliament House Opened By The Queen
May 09, 1988
New Parliament House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on May 9, 1988.
The building’s opening occurred during Australia’s bicentenary year. Construction of the new Parliament House began in 1981, at the initiative of the Fraser government.
The building replaced the provisional Parliament House which was opened by the Queen’s father, the Duke of York and later King George VI, in 1927, also on May 9.
Earlier, the first sitting of the Commonwealth Parliament took place on May 9, 1901, in Melbourne.
These are some videos of the opening ceremony. They formed part of the ABC’s live broadcast of the occasion:
- Former minister in the Whitlam government, Fred Daly, is interviewed about the new Parliament House:
- The Queen arrives for the opening and ceremonially unlocks the doors to new Parliament House:
- Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s speech:
- Opposition Leader John Howard’s speech:
- The Queen officially opens Parliament House:
- Speeches from the House Speaker, Joan Child, and the Senate President, Kerry Sibraa. The Queen meets official guests and then departs:
Queen Elizabeth Signs Australia Act Into Law
Mar 02, 1986
Queen Elizabeth II has given Royal Assent to the Australia Act, her signature relinquishing British interference in Australian government.
The Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, watched as the Act was signed into law. By proclamation, the Australia Act came into force simultaneously with a similar Act passed by the British Parliament.
A statement from Hawke outlining the main provisions of the Act is shown below. [Read more…]
Letters Patent 1984: Governor-General
Aug 21, 1984
This is the full text of the Letters Patent from Queen Elizabeth II in relation to the Governor-General of Australia.
Letters Patent are effectively a written order issued by the monarch. They are a legal instrument that grants an office, title or status.
Letters Patent issued by Queen Elizabeth II in relation to the office of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth,
Greeting:
WHEREAS, by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, certain powers, functions and authorities are vested in a Governor-General appointed by the Queen to be Her Majesty’s representative in the Commonwealth: [Read more…]