Anthony Albanese pays tribute to Queen at memorial service with former prime ministers

Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to the Queen as Canberra marks her passing with a memorial service where Scott Morrison, Paul Keating and John Howard also attended.

Australian leaders have gathered in Canberra to farewell Queen Elizabeth II as Anthony Albanese declares “respect for all” will be the nation’s lasting tribute to the long serving monarch.

In a speech to more than 600 people in the Parliament House great hall, the Prime Minister said the Queen touched the lives of millions of Australians, and inspired people with her service to the community.

Mr Albanese said the Queen had stood with Australia through “good times and in days of trial and hardship” across her 70-year reign.

“In an era of fads and fashionable causes, The Queen did not seek to chase the times - instead she held to qualities and virtues that are timeless,” he said.

“Love of family, loyalty to country, service to community, kindness to those in need, respect for everyone she met.

“I think something all of us can do to meaningfully honour the life of Queen Elizabeth in an ongoing way is take inspiration from her example.”

Mr Albanese said although monuments to the Queen dot the Australian landscape, the “greatest tribute” Australians could offer her family and memory would not be a marble statue or metal plaque.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the Governor-General David Hurley, attended the national memorial service to celebrate the life of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II in the Great Hall at Australian Parliament House, in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Former Prime Minister, Paul Keating attended the event. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“It is a renewed embrace of service to community,” he said.

“A truer understanding of our duty to others.

“A stronger commitment to respect for all.

“This would be a most fitting memorial, to a magnificent life of service to others.”

The memorial was opened with a performance by the Wiradjuri Echoes and a welcome to country given by Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan.

Mr Albanese said Australians proudly honoured the Queen’s memory “on a continent home to the world’s oldest continuous culture - paying respect to traditional owners and elders past, present and emerging”.

“In all things - including our advance to Reconciliation - the Queen always wanted the best for our country,” he said.

“She greeted every evolution in our relationship with Britain with good grace and an abiding faith in the judgement of the Australian people.”

Former prime ministers Scott Morrison, John Howard and Paul Keating were among the dignitaries at the National Memorial Service held in the great hall in Parliament House on Thursday morning.

Former Prime Ministers, Paul Keating, John Howard and Scott Morrison. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Governor-General David Hurley, attended the national memorial service at Australian Parliament House, in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Governor-General David Hurley, his predecessor Quentin Bryce, every state premier and territory chief minister, federal MPs and senators, senior judges and diplomats also attended the special event.

Mr Hurley reflected on his trip to the UK for the Queen’s funeral on Monday, saying one of the most touching parts of the experience was seeing the thousands of floral tributes and messages left by members of the public.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with partner Jodie Haydon, the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda, attended the national memorial service to celebrate the life of Her Majesty The Queen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said many Australians had caught a glimpse or exchanged a wave wiuth the Queen as she toured the nation over the years.

“Most of us, of course, never met her,” he said. “And yet, she was familiar to us all.”

Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon arrive back in Sydney. Picture: John Grainger.

The PM arrived ahead of the Queen’s memorial service in Canberra. Picture: John Grainger.

Mr Dutton said he believed the Queen would be remembered more than anything for “steadfastly embodying humanity’s very best virtues and values”.

“Service and sacrifice, fortitude and humility, grace and generosity, forecgiveness and empathy,” he said.

“Virtues and values, of course, which we all admire, but which are under pressure in the modern age.

“Perhaps our Queen’s greatest triumph will be a renaissance of these virtues and values as we remember her evermore.”

Australian singer Anthony Callea sang the Australian national anthem, and later performed

King Charles III in a meeting with Anthony Albanese in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace. Picture: AFP

You’ll Never Walk alone, while the Australian Girls Choir sang several hymns throughout the program.

Callea and the choir group had previously performed for the Queen when she visited Australia in 2006.

At the end of the service the guests were invited to place a sprig of Australian wattle in two commemorative wreaths in a floral tribute lead by the Australian Scout Award and Queen’s Scout Award recipients.

As part of the official program a F-35 flyover had been planned to honour the passing of the Queen, but it was cancelled due to bad weather.

On Friday federal parliament will resume for condolence motions in the lower house and the senate.