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Queen's life in pictures: Her tours Down Under

Fay Gould
1 min read·September 09, 2022 - 7:17AM
News Corp Australia Network

The Queen travelled to Australia 16 times, visiting every state and territory to celebrate “the diversity as well as the dynamism of Australia, and the vigour and humour of Australians everywhere”.

<b>1954 – Sydney</b> The Queen first visited Australia in 1954, less than a year after her Coronation, as part of a six-month tour of the Commonwealth. She was the first reigning monarch to set foot on Australian soil and she and Prince Philip were greeted by massive crowds after sailing into Sydney Harbour. At a garden party at Government House in Sydney guests struggled in the intense heat, but the young Queen was said to have looked “as cool as the tinkle of ice in a glass”.
1954 – Sydney The Queen first visited Australia in 1954, less than a year after her Coronation, as part of a six-month tour of the Commonwealth. She was the first reigning monarch to set foot on Australian soil and she and Prince Philip were greeted by massive crowds after sailing into Sydney Harbour. At a garden party at Government House in Sydney guests struggled in the intense heat, but the young Queen was said to have looked “as cool as the tinkle of ice in a glass”.
<b>1954 – Melbourne</b> The 1954 tour took in all states and territories but the Northern Territory. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Queen and Prince Philip stood in a gleaming Land Rover as they were driven past excited schoolchildren. However things didn’t always go smoothly on the Victorian leg of the tour – one camera crew witnessed a royal tiff in which the Queen threw a tennis shoe at her husband. Greeting the journalists soon after, all calm restored, she is quoted as saying: “I’m sorry for that little interlude, but, as you know, it happens in every marriage.”
1954 – Melbourne The 1954 tour took in all states and territories but the Northern Territory. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Queen and Prince Philip stood in a gleaming Land Rover as they were driven past excited schoolchildren. However things didn’t always go smoothly on the Victorian leg of the tour – one camera crew witnessed a royal tiff in which the Queen threw a tennis shoe at her husband. Greeting the journalists soon after, all calm restored, she is quoted as saying: “I’m sorry for that little interlude, but, as you know, it happens in every marriage.”
<b>1954 – Canberra</b> The Queen’s first trip to Australia was a momentous event and it is estimated that three-quarters of all Australians turned out to see her during her 58 days in the country. One of the most anticipated moments was the opening of parliament in Canberra. Befitting the grand occasion, the Queen wore her Coronation robe and a glittering tiara and addressed the gathered politicians “not as a Queen from far away, but as your Queen and a part of your parliament”.
1954 – Canberra The Queen’s first trip to Australia was a momentous event and it is estimated that three-quarters of all Australians turned out to see her during her 58 days in the country. One of the most anticipated moments was the opening of parliament in Canberra. Befitting the grand occasion, the Queen wore her Coronation robe and a glittering tiara and addressed the gathered politicians “not as a Queen from far away, but as your Queen and a part of your parliament”.
<b>1954 – Cairns</b> The Queen and Prince Philip inspect a line-up of Torres Strait islanders at Parramatta Park, Cairns, after arriving on the Royal yacht <i>SS Gothic</i> from Townsville. The 45 dancers travelled from Thursday Island to join the celebrations, which also included a performance by thousands of local children. The visit was marred however by the collapse of two overcrowded stands holding 500 spectators, prompting the Queen to remark on her distress that people may have been injured.
1954 – Cairns The Queen and Prince Philip inspect a line-up of Torres Strait islanders at Parramatta Park, Cairns, after arriving on the Royal yacht SS Gothic from Townsville. The 45 dancers travelled from Thursday Island to join the celebrations, which also included a performance by thousands of local children. The visit was marred however by the collapse of two overcrowded stands holding 500 spectators, prompting the Queen to remark on her distress that people may have been injured.
<b>1963 – Melbourne</b> The Queen’s second visit to Australia came in 1963, when she helped mark the 50th anniversary of Canberra, but also visited all the states and territories, including the new town of Elizabeth, named in her honour, in South Australia. It was considered a more informal tour than the 1954 effort, with more time for the Royal couple to relax between engagements, despite their extensive itinerary. At one point one enterprising Aussie youngster jumped a fence to take a close-up photo of the Queen, before moving ahead of the Royal party to line up his next shot.
1963 – Melbourne The Queen’s second visit to Australia came in 1963, when she helped mark the 50th anniversary of Canberra, but also visited all the states and territories, including the new town of Elizabeth, named in her honour, in South Australia. It was considered a more informal tour than the 1954 effort, with more time for the Royal couple to relax between engagements, despite their extensive itinerary. At one point one enterprising Aussie youngster jumped a fence to take a close-up photo of the Queen, before moving ahead of the Royal party to line up his next shot.
<b>1963 – Gold Coast</b> The 1963 visit included a memorable stop on the Gold Coast, where lifesavers formed a 50-man guard of honour representing 44 Queensland surf clubs and six from northern New South Wales. Having earlier travelled to Brisbane on the <i>Royal Yacht Britannia</i>, the Queen flew into a rainy Coolangatta to watch the Royal Surf Carnival from a dais overlooking the windswept beach.
1963 – Gold Coast The 1963 visit included a memorable stop on the Gold Coast, where lifesavers formed a 50-man guard of honour representing 44 Queensland surf clubs and six from northern New South Wales. Having earlier travelled to Brisbane on the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Queen flew into a rainy Coolangatta to watch the Royal Surf Carnival from a dais overlooking the windswept beach.
<b>1963 – Alice Springs</b> On her first journey to the Northern Territory, the Queen visited Alice Springs and made a special broadcast to remote communities over the Flying Doctor network as Prince Philip looked on. Lunch in the desert town was also memorable, with a shout of “Shut up” echoing around the room in the Queen’s presence as officials attempted to get attention before making a toast. The Royal couple also stopped at Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin for the opening of the Royal Darwin Show. Picture: Getty
1963 – Alice Springs On her first journey to the Northern Territory, the Queen visited Alice Springs and made a special broadcast to remote communities over the Flying Doctor network as Prince Philip looked on. Lunch in the desert town was also memorable, with a shout of “Shut up” echoing around the room in the Queen’s presence as officials attempted to get attention before making a toast. The Royal couple also stopped at Tennant Creek and Katherine before arriving in Darwin for the opening of the Royal Darwin Show. Picture: Getty
<b>1970 – Tasmania</b> The Queen’s 1970 visit to Australia introduced the Royal “walkabout”, a major break with tradition that allowed family members to meet and greet a larger number of people, not just officials and dignitaries. For this trip Down Under, the Queen – seen here meeting schoolchildren in Tasmania – was joined by Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, who reportedly shocked the crowd on one walkabout with a complaint about the “bloody wind”.
1970 – Tasmania The Queen’s 1970 visit to Australia introduced the Royal “walkabout”, a major break with tradition that allowed family members to meet and greet a larger number of people, not just officials and dignitaries. For this trip Down Under, the Queen – seen here meeting schoolchildren in Tasmania – was joined by Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, who reportedly shocked the crowd on one walkabout with a complaint about the “bloody wind”.
<b>1970 – Brisbane</b> The 1970 tour, which took in the ACT, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, was organised in connection with the bicentenary of Captain James Cook sailing up the east coast of Australia in 1770, but there was time for typical tourist pursuits – including meeting koalas in Brisbane. Picture: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty
1970 – Brisbane The 1970 tour, which took in the ACT, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, was organised in connection with the bicentenary of Captain James Cook sailing up the east coast of Australia in 1770, but there was time for typical tourist pursuits – including meeting koalas in Brisbane. Picture: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty
<b>1970 – Sydney</b> The Queen and Prince Philip wave after landing in Sydney during the 1970 tour. Almost four decades later, details emerged of an apparent assassination attempt on the Queen as she travelled through New South Wales. Retired Detective Superintendent Cliff McHardy said a log was placed on tracks near Lithgow in an attempt to derail the Royal train, which was taking the Queen to Orange. While the attempt failed because the train was travelling “unusually slowly”, Mr McHardy said it was kept secret under a government suppression order.
1970 – Sydney The Queen and Prince Philip wave after landing in Sydney during the 1970 tour. Almost four decades later, details emerged of an apparent assassination attempt on the Queen as she travelled through New South Wales. Retired Detective Superintendent Cliff McHardy said a log was placed on tracks near Lithgow in an attempt to derail the Royal train, which was taking the Queen to Orange. While the attempt failed because the train was travelling “unusually slowly”, Mr McHardy said it was kept secret under a government suppression order.
<b>1970 – Melbourne</b> The new informality of the 1970 tour is clear in this shot from Melbourne, which shows a young girl continuing to walk ahead of the Queen after scampering from the crowd to present a small bunch of flowers.
1970 – Melbourne The new informality of the 1970 tour is clear in this shot from Melbourne, which shows a young girl continuing to walk ahead of the Queen after scampering from the crowd to present a small bunch of flowers.
<b>1973 – Sydney</b> Just three years later the Queen was back in Australia with Prince Philip to open the Sydney Opera House, a “one-purpose visit” which she described as something of an innovation. “We always enjoy our longer and more elaborate visits to Australia – especially the last, which gave us the chance to talk informally to so many Australians,” she said. “But I think this visit symbolises the contemporary relationship between Crown and people particularly well. The speed of modern travel, and the growing ease and informality of our relations – all the closer for that, I believe – make this sort of visit possible, desirable and appropriate.”
1973 – Sydney Just three years later the Queen was back in Australia with Prince Philip to open the Sydney Opera House, a “one-purpose visit” which she described as something of an innovation. “We always enjoy our longer and more elaborate visits to Australia – especially the last, which gave us the chance to talk informally to so many Australians,” she said. “But I think this visit symbolises the contemporary relationship between Crown and people particularly well. The speed of modern travel, and the growing ease and informality of our relations – all the closer for that, I believe – make this sort of visit possible, desirable and appropriate.”
<b>1974 – Canberra</b> The third of four Royal visits in the 1970s saw the Queen join then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam for the opening of Parliament House in Canberra. Just the following year, in November 1975, the Queen’s representative, Governor-General John Kerr, dismissed Whitlam in one of the most dramatic and divisive events in Australian political history.
1974 – Canberra The third of four Royal visits in the 1970s saw the Queen join then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam for the opening of Parliament House in Canberra. Just the following year, in November 1975, the Queen’s representative, Governor-General John Kerr, dismissed Whitlam in one of the most dramatic and divisive events in Australian political history.
<b>1977 – Canberra</b> Malcolm Fraser was sworn in as caretaker prime minister after the dismissal and went on to win a landslide victory in the 1975 election. Two years later he joined the Queen at a reception in Parliament House, Canberra, as she returned to Australia for her Silver Jubilee tour. Picture: Australian Information Service
1977 – Canberra Malcolm Fraser was sworn in as caretaker prime minister after the dismissal and went on to win a landslide victory in the 1975 election. Two years later he joined the Queen at a reception in Parliament House, Canberra, as she returned to Australia for her Silver Jubilee tour. Picture: Australian Information Service
<b>1977 – South Australia</b> On a visit to the Lindsay Park stud in Angaston, with racehorse owner-trainer Colin Hayes, left, the Queen took out her gold Rollei pocket camera to photograph the horse Without Fear. The Queen is known for her keen interest in her own stable of racehorses and in her Silver Jubilee year enjoyed success at two classic British races, The Oaks and the St Leger, with her horse Dunfermline.
1977 – South Australia On a visit to the Lindsay Park stud in Angaston, with racehorse owner-trainer Colin Hayes, left, the Queen took out her gold Rollei pocket camera to photograph the horse Without Fear. The Queen is known for her keen interest in her own stable of racehorses and in her Silver Jubilee year enjoyed success at two classic British races, The Oaks and the St Leger, with her horse Dunfermline.
<b>1977 – Melbourne</b> A highlight of the Silver Jubilee tour was the Queen’s attendance at the Centenary Test match between Australia and England at the MCG. Here she is introduced to Australian bowler Dennis Lillee by captain Greg Chappell, as ACB Treasurer Ray Steele, left, and an injured Rick McCosker look on. Batsman McCosker’s jaw was broken in two places by a Bob Willis bouncer on the first morning of the Test, but he returned, heavily-bandaged, to bat in Australia’s second innings, walking out to chants of “Waltzing McCosker” from the crowd.
1977 – Melbourne A highlight of the Silver Jubilee tour was the Queen’s attendance at the Centenary Test match between Australia and England at the MCG. Here she is introduced to Australian bowler Dennis Lillee by captain Greg Chappell, as ACB Treasurer Ray Steele, left, and an injured Rick McCosker look on. Batsman McCosker’s jaw was broken in two places by a Bob Willis bouncer on the first morning of the Test, but he returned, heavily-bandaged, to bat in Australia’s second innings, walking out to chants of “Waltzing McCosker” from the crowd.
<b>1980 – Melbourne</b> The Queen was a regular visitor to Australia in the 1980s, making five trips in all, the first in 1980 when she opened a new High Court building in Canberra. Her visit to Melbourne, where this picture was taken, that same year included a stop at what was then called Museum Station on the City Loop about five months before the first test train ran through the underground system.
1980 – Melbourne The Queen was a regular visitor to Australia in the 1980s, making five trips in all, the first in 1980 when she opened a new High Court building in Canberra. Her visit to Melbourne, where this picture was taken, that same year included a stop at what was then called Museum Station on the City Loop about five months before the first test train ran through the underground system.
<b>1980 – Sydney</b> On May 27, 1980, the Queen and Prince Philip attended an all-Australian Royal Charity Concert at the Sydney Opera House that was televised nationally and featured stars including Paul Hogan and Olivia Newton-John, both pictured, Peter Allen, John Farnham, Helen Reddy and Bert Newton. Newton later recalled that Allen “did his first public performance of <i>I Still Call Australia Home</i> as the finale … it was just electric, he walked away with the audience”. Picture: National Archives
1980 – Sydney On May 27, 1980, the Queen and Prince Philip attended an all-Australian Royal Charity Concert at the Sydney Opera House that was televised nationally and featured stars including Paul Hogan and Olivia Newton-John, both pictured, Peter Allen, John Farnham, Helen Reddy and Bert Newton. Newton later recalled that Allen “did his first public performance of I Still Call Australia Home as the finale … it was just electric, he walked away with the audience”. Picture: National Archives
<b>1981 – Tasmania</b> In 1981, the Queen was in Australia for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Melbourne. She also visited Tasmania, where she was pictured with officers at the police academy and took in the Launceston Show.
1981 – Tasmania In 1981, the Queen was in Australia for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Melbourne. She also visited Tasmania, where she was pictured with officers at the police academy and took in the Launceston Show.
<b>1982 – Brisbane</b> An award-winning shot from young <i>Daily Sun</i> photographer Flora Sacco shows the Queen checking out the program at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. Despite the Queen’s presence and the efforts of athletes like Raelene Boyle, it was another woman who stole the show – Matilda, a 13m-high mechanical kangaroo, rolled around the stadium in the opening and closing ceremonies winking at the crowd.
1982 – Brisbane An award-winning shot from young Daily Sun photographer Flora Sacco shows the Queen checking out the program at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. Despite the Queen’s presence and the efforts of athletes like Raelene Boyle, it was another woman who stole the show – Matilda, a 13m-high mechanical kangaroo, rolled around the stadium in the opening and closing ceremonies winking at the crowd.
<b>1982 – Darwin</b> The 1982 tour included a visit to Darwin, where the Queen met the star attraction at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT – a 5.1m saltwater croc called Sweetheart. The aggressive creature was the subject of a relocation attempt in 1979, but drowned in the process, and was instead delivered to a taxidermist. The Queen also presented the Royal Humane Society’s Gold Medal for bravery to Peta Lynne Mann for saving a 23-year-old man from a crocodile attack the previous year, aged just 12.
1982 – Darwin The 1982 tour included a visit to Darwin, where the Queen met the star attraction at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT – a 5.1m saltwater croc called Sweetheart. The aggressive creature was the subject of a relocation attempt in 1979, but drowned in the process, and was instead delivered to a taxidermist. The Queen also presented the Royal Humane Society’s Gold Medal for bravery to Peta Lynne Mann for saving a 23-year-old man from a crocodile attack the previous year, aged just 12.
<b>1986 – Glenelg</b> The Queen visited South Australia for the state’s sesquicentenary year, but bad weather forced her arrival at Glenelg on the Royal barge to be abandoned after almost making it to the jetty. The Royal party had to return to the <i>Royal Yacht Britannia</i> and change their schedule of events for the day. Press secretary Michael Shea said the Queen “absolutely wanted to have a go” at the landing. “I’ve seen her leap to the shore before now, but this time it did appear too dangerous.”
1986 – Glenelg The Queen visited South Australia for the state’s sesquicentenary year, but bad weather forced her arrival at Glenelg on the Royal barge to be abandoned after almost making it to the jetty. The Royal party had to return to the Royal Yacht Britannia and change their schedule of events for the day. Press secretary Michael Shea said the Queen “absolutely wanted to have a go” at the landing. “I’ve seen her leap to the shore before now, but this time it did appear too dangerous.”
<b>1986 – Melbourne</b> The ever-stylish Queen looks almost casually dressed in comparison as she is presented to Melbourne’s 1986 King of Moomba – racing driver Peter Brock in robe and crown.
1986 – Melbourne The ever-stylish Queen looks almost casually dressed in comparison as she is presented to Melbourne’s 1986 King of Moomba – racing driver Peter Brock in robe and crown.
<b>1988 – Canberra</b> 1988 saw celebrations for the bicentenary of Australia and once again the Queen and Prince Philip travelled Down Under. The Queen opened the World Expo in Brisbane and, on May 9, the new Parliament House in Canberra – 61 years to the day after her father opened the Provisional Parliament House (now Old Parliament House). The following day the Queen inspected the troops at the Royal Military College Duntroon.
1988 – Canberra 1988 saw celebrations for the bicentenary of Australia and once again the Queen and Prince Philip travelled Down Under. The Queen opened the World Expo in Brisbane and, on May 9, the new Parliament House in Canberra – 61 years to the day after her father opened the Provisional Parliament House (now Old Parliament House). The following day the Queen inspected the troops at the Royal Military College Duntroon.
<b>1988 – Albury</b> Prince Philip reaches out to the crowd as he and the Queen are driven past wellwishers at Albury sportsground in New South Wales during the bicentenary tour.
1988 – Albury Prince Philip reaches out to the crowd as he and the Queen are driven past wellwishers at Albury sportsground in New South Wales during the bicentenary tour.
<b>1992 – Adelaide</b> Two-year-old Carley Warren was determined to present the Queen with a posy and ran into the road as the Royal Rolls Royce neared during the Queen’s visit to Adelaide in February 1992. Luckily, Constable Gerard Powell picked Carley up before she could go too far, and then there were cheers from the crowd as the Queen saw the toddler and beckoned for her to be brought over to her.
1992 – Adelaide Two-year-old Carley Warren was determined to present the Queen with a posy and ran into the road as the Royal Rolls Royce neared during the Queen’s visit to Adelaide in February 1992. Luckily, Constable Gerard Powell picked Carley up before she could go too far, and then there were cheers from the crowd as the Queen saw the toddler and beckoned for her to be brought over to her.
<b>1992 – Canberra</b> The 1992 tour was notorious for one particular incident, when Prime Minister Paul Keating was pictured touching the Queen’s back – a breach of Royal protocol – as he guided her along a presentation line in Canberra. The incident earned him the nickname the ‘Lizard of Oz’ as the British media went on the attack, but Prince Charles later said he was not insulted by the PM’s gaffe and “nor was the Queen”.
1992 – Canberra The 1992 tour was notorious for one particular incident, when Prime Minister Paul Keating was pictured touching the Queen’s back – a breach of Royal protocol – as he guided her along a presentation line in Canberra. The incident earned him the nickname the ‘Lizard of Oz’ as the British media went on the attack, but Prince Charles later said he was not insulted by the PM’s gaffe and “nor was the Queen”.
<b>2000 – Sydney </b>The Queen braves the rain to inspect the troops on the forecourt of Sydney Opera House on her 13th visit to Australia, which came just four months after the country voted against becoming a republic in the 1999 referendum. In a speech, the Queen pledged to serve as monarch as long as she was wanted. “I shall continue faithfully to serve as Queen of Australia under the constitution to the very best of my ability, as I have tried to do for these past 48 years. That is my duty. It is also my privilege and my pleasure.”
2000 – Sydney The Queen braves the rain to inspect the troops on the forecourt of Sydney Opera House on her 13th visit to Australia, which came just four months after the country voted against becoming a republic in the 1999 referendum. In a speech, the Queen pledged to serve as monarch as long as she was wanted. “I shall continue faithfully to serve as Queen of Australia under the constitution to the very best of my ability, as I have tried to do for these past 48 years. That is my duty. It is also my privilege and my pleasure.”
<b>2000 – Alice Springs</b> The Queen watches Aboriginal dancers at The Desert Park in Alice Springs, during the 2000 tour which focused on regional Australia with visits also to Wagga Wagga, Bourke, Ballarat and Busselton.
2000 – Alice Springs The Queen watches Aboriginal dancers at The Desert Park in Alice Springs, during the 2000 tour which focused on regional Australia with visits also to Wagga Wagga, Bourke, Ballarat and Busselton.
<b>2002 – Adelaide</b> The Queen was all smiles as she met corgi owners and their dogs from Adelaide Hills Kennel Club on her Golden Jubilee tour. With news reports at the time focused on controversy surrounding then Governor-general Peter Hollingworth, corgi breeder Harry Paynter told the press: “This is about the best part of the tour because she won’t get any arguments from the dogs, so best part of the tour – no controversy.” Later at Adelaide Festival Hall the Queen declared her “admiration, affection and regard for the people of Australia will remain, as it has been over these past 50 years, constant, sure and true.”
2002 – Adelaide The Queen was all smiles as she met corgi owners and their dogs from Adelaide Hills Kennel Club on her Golden Jubilee tour. With news reports at the time focused on controversy surrounding then Governor-general Peter Hollingworth, corgi breeder Harry Paynter told the press: “This is about the best part of the tour because she won’t get any arguments from the dogs, so best part of the tour – no controversy.” Later at Adelaide Festival Hall the Queen declared her “admiration, affection and regard for the people of Australia will remain, as it has been over these past 50 years, constant, sure and true.”
<b>2002 – Brisbane</b> The Queen is accompanied by then Queensland premier Peter Beattie during a “meet the people walk” at Roma Street Parkland in March 2002. The Queen, who was in Australia with Prince Philip to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, said: “We have both been struck by both the diversity as well as the dynamism of Australia, and the vigour and humour of Australians everywhere.”
2002 – Brisbane The Queen is accompanied by then Queensland premier Peter Beattie during a “meet the people walk” at Roma Street Parkland in March 2002. The Queen, who was in Australia with Prince Philip to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, said: “We have both been struck by both the diversity as well as the dynamism of Australia, and the vigour and humour of Australians everywhere.”
<b>2002 – Cairns</b> Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Queensland was a stop on the Golden Jubilee tour and the setting for one of Prince Philip’s much-publicised gaffes, when he reportedly asked: “Do you still throw spears at each other?” The succinct reply from Aboriginal businessman William Brim was: “No. We don’t do that any more.” Buckingham Palace later stressed the Duke’s remark was light-hearted, while Mr Brim was quoted as saying: “It was quite funny, but I was rather surprised that he said it.” Picture: AFP
2002 – Cairns Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Queensland was a stop on the Golden Jubilee tour and the setting for one of Prince Philip’s much-publicised gaffes, when he reportedly asked: “Do you still throw spears at each other?” The succinct reply from Aboriginal businessman William Brim was: “No. We don’t do that any more.” Buckingham Palace later stressed the Duke’s remark was light-hearted, while Mr Brim was quoted as saying: “It was quite funny, but I was rather surprised that he said it.” Picture: AFP
<b>2006 – Melbourne</b> In her 80th birthday year, the Queen returned to Australia to open the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and is pictured here with Ian Thorpe and the youngest member of the Australian swim team, Kylie Palmer. The Queen had earlier stopped in Canberra where, at a dinner at Parliament House, she paid tribute to Australia, saying it had in her lifetime “established itself amongst the most respected nations of the world”.
2006 – Melbourne In her 80th birthday year, the Queen returned to Australia to open the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and is pictured here with Ian Thorpe and the youngest member of the Australian swim team, Kylie Palmer. The Queen had earlier stopped in Canberra where, at a dinner at Parliament House, she paid tribute to Australia, saying it had in her lifetime “established itself amongst the most respected nations of the world”.
<b>2006 – Sydney</b> Wellwishers wave Australian flags as the Queen greets the crowd after attending a Commonwealth Day service in Sydney as part of her 2006 tour with Prince Philip. Picture: Getty
2006 – Sydney Wellwishers wave Australian flags as the Queen greets the crowd after attending a Commonwealth Day service in Sydney as part of her 2006 tour with Prince Philip. Picture: Getty
<b>2011 – Melbourne</b> In 2011, there had been speculation that the Queen, at 85, and Prince Philip, at 90, might not be making any more long-haul tours, but Buckingham Palace announced an October trip to Australia taking in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne over 10 days. On a whirlwind visit to the Victorian city, the Queen officially opened the Royal Children’s Hospital, was greeted by thousands in Federation Square and rode the Royal Tram to Government House. Picture: AP
2011 – Melbourne In 2011, there had been speculation that the Queen, at 85, and Prince Philip, at 90, might not be making any more long-haul tours, but Buckingham Palace announced an October trip to Australia taking in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne over 10 days. On a whirlwind visit to the Victorian city, the Queen officially opened the Royal Children’s Hospital, was greeted by thousands in Federation Square and rode the Royal Tram to Government House. Picture: AP
<b>2011 – Perth</b> In Perth, the Queen attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, but also the Big Aussie BBQ, which attracted tens of thousands of people. “I can think of no more fitting way to end my visit, than here in this idyllic Swan River setting, which I have enjoyed on so many occasions,” the Queen said. “Once again, we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories of our time here and the warm Australian welcome we have received on our 16th visit to this beautiful country.”
2011 – Perth In Perth, the Queen attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, but also the Big Aussie BBQ, which attracted tens of thousands of people. “I can think of no more fitting way to end my visit, than here in this idyllic Swan River setting, which I have enjoyed on so many occasions,” the Queen said. “Once again, we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories of our time here and the warm Australian welcome we have received on our 16th visit to this beautiful country.”
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