Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: Albanese makes a stand for Australian values

Anthony Albanese has attended the ‘reception of the century’ at Buckingham Palace just hours after saying China ‘needs to come to terms with Australia’s standing up for values’.

King Charles with Anthony Albanese in Buckingham Palace on Saturday. Picture: AFP

Anthony Albanese has attended the “reception of the century” at Buckingham Palace just hours after saying China “needs to come to terms with Australia’s standing up for values”.

The Prime Minister was in the same Buckingham Palace rooms on Sunday evening as the Chinese delegation, including the Vice-President Wang Qishan.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla hosted a two-hour state reception for 500 dignitaries including European royals, the Japanese Emperor and world leaders on the eve of the Queen’s state funeral.

Mr Albanese had three hours earlier told BBC Radio 4: “Australia must always stand up for our values and we’ll continue to do that, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have an economic relationship with China.

“What I want to see is that we will co-operate with China where we can, but we will stand up for Australian values where we must, and that is something China needs to come to terms with.

“There are sanctions currently against Australian imports into China. I see that as very much a lose-lose situation.

“It hurts the Australian economy and Australian jobs, but it also hurts China to deprive itself of Australian wine, Australian meat, Australian barley, Australian products that are, in my opinion of course as the Australian Prime Minister, at least as good if not better than anywhere else in the world. So to me it is counter-­productive. We want good relationships, but we also need to be able to, and will continue to, speak out for our values, democracy and the rule of law.”

At the palace reception, Mr Albanese - in attendance with his partner, Jodie Haydon, and Governor-General David Hurley and his wife, Linda – had many allies to chat with.

US President Joe Biden was in attendance with his wife, Jill, as well as European prime ministers and the EU leadership, of which Australia is currently progressing a free-trade deal.

Mr Biden earlier visited the Lying in State at Westminster Hall, saying the late Queen ­reminded him of his mother after paying his respects to her at ­Westminster Hall. Speaking ­afterwards, the US President said the Queen had reminded him of his mother “just because of the way she touched when she leaned over”.

“The way she had that look, like, ‘Are you OK?’ “ he said.

“ ‘Anything I can do for you? What do you need?’ and then also: ‘Make sure you do what you are supposed to do’.”

Buckingham Palace has released a photo of the Princess of Wales having an audience with the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, inside the palace.