A quick pit stop for the Queen and then off to give birth to Anthony Albanese

After going into labour with Anthony Albanese in March 1963, Maryanne Ellery insisted on travelling to the hospital via George St, Sydney, to witness the festival paraphernalia for the Queen’s royal visit.

Queen Elizabeth in Sydney in 1963.

After going into labour with Anthony Albanese in March 1963, Maryanne Ellery insisted on travelling to the hospital via George St, Sydney, to witness the festival paraphernalia for the royal visit of the Queen.

The Prime Minister related the story about his mother on ABC TV, saying it showed how Australians could support an Australian head of state while still respecting the Queen.

“My mother was a republican, but also liked the Queen,” Mr Albanese said. “I think you can have different views but have respect for Queen Elizabeth and the role that she had.

“My family used to tell that story about my mother insisting that while she was in labour on the way to the hospital.

“And that’s a story that is fairly famous in my family, so my mother did have regard for Queen Elizabeth. I think the fact that Queen Elizabeth was such a strong woman was a role model as well for so many people.”

Following his meeting with King Charles at the weekend, Mr Albanese said he wanted to “express a personal condolence on the loss of his mother”.

“I think the whole world is focusing on the loss of a sovereign, the loss of a head of state. But for King Charles, it’s also a very personal loss. And I wanted to express my personal feelings about that,” he said.

Despite being a republican, Mr Albanese said did not feel uneasy commemorating the life of a British monarch and felt “a sense of history” meeting the King. “I certainly never take a day for granted in the position that I hold. I take it as an incredible privilege,” he said.

Mr Albanese also said he wanted to ensure Australia remained a land of opportunity for people of all income levels, and reflected on his journey growing up in public housing in Sydney to being in London with world leaders for the funeral.

He said it was an “extraordinary honour” to be attending the Queen’s service and his story was an example of why Australia was a “great country”.

“No matter how humble your beginnings … a bit of luck of course is required, but you can have the opportunity to have a life that is far more prosperous than you could have expected,” Mr Albanese told 2GB radio. “And we need to make sure that we keep Australia like that and that it continues to be a country of opportunity.”

Mr Albanese has often spoken of the relationship with his mother who died 20 years ago, with the Prime Minister visiting her grave after returning from his trip to Tokyo for the Quad leaders’ summit just days after winning the May 21 election.

On election night, Mr Albanese paid tribute to his mother, saying it revealed “a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown can stand before you tonight as Australia’s prime minister”.

“Every parent wants more for the next generation than they had. My mother dreamt of a better life for me. And I hope that my journey in life inspires Australians to reach for the stars,” he said.