Big change to to major public holiday in NSW

A major change to a public holiday has been confirmed in one state with the government stating it was done with a ‘touch of sadness’.

The NSW Government has confirmed the Queen’s Birthday public holiday will now be known as King’s Birthday going forward in the state.

The move has been made in recognition of King Charles III, who took over as the UK’s King and Australia’s Monarch following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last month.

In practice, nothing about the public holiday will change and it will still fall on the second Monday of June each year.

Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope said many NSW residents have only ever known the holiday as Queen’s Birthday.

The public holiday will be known as King’s Birthday in NSW going forward. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

“Most people have only known this public holiday as the Queen’s Birthday holiday for every year of the late Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign,” he said.

“It is with a touch of sadness that we must move to change the name, but it is an important recognition of the new monarch, King Charles III, that the public holiday will continue and be henceforth named the King’s Birthday public holiday.”

A legislative amendment was required to the state’s Public Holidays Act 2010 so the holiday’s name could be changed.

The amendment has been gazetted and will be effective as of January 13, 2023.

Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope said the change was an important recognition of King Charles III. Picture: Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Many Australians have only ever known the holiday as Queen’s Birthday. Picture: AFP PHOTO / POOL / Yui Mok

Victoria and Western Australia have also previously confirmed the holiday would be known as King’s Birthday in their respective states.

Even though Queen Elizabeth II’s actual birthday was on April 21, NSW followed a UK royal tradition where official celebrations were held in June due to the greater likelihood of nicer weather.

King Charles III was also not born in June, his birthday is on November 14.

In 2023, the King’s Birthday public holiday will fall on Monday, June 12 in NSW.