20 Facts about the Monarchy of Australia

Royal Standard of Australia

1. Australia has been a country with a monarchy since 1778 when colonization began under the British Crown. Since the mid-20th Century, it has been governed under a Crown (as an independent kingdom) in its own right. 

2. In 1901, Australia became the second self-governing dominion within the British Empire when the colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania joined as states under the name of the Commonwealth of Australia. Its independence was affirmed at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and in 1931 by the Statute of Westminster. 

3. The first reigning monarch to step foot on Australian soil was Queen Elizabeth II, who toured the country with Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1954, during which she opened the parliamentary session.

4. Throughout her 62 year reign, the Queen has toured Australia 16 times, with the most recent tour being in the summer of 2011. Other members of the Royal Family have made numerous visits over the past 150 years. 

5. At her coronation, the Queen swore an oath to govern the peoples of Australia and her other realms "according to their respective laws and customs." 

6. Legally speaking, Elizabeth II's role as Queen of Australia is separate and distinct from her role as Queen of the United Kingdom, as well as her other realms.

7. In 1999, a referendum was held on the monarchy in which 55% of Australians voted to retain it. 

8. Elizabeth II is represented in Australia by a Governor-General, and in each of the six states by a Governor. 

9. The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister, whilst the State Governor's are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of each state premiere (head of government). 

10. The Governor-General visits foreign nations as the Queen's representative and serves as Commander-in-Chief of Australia for Her Majesty’s Australian Armed Forces. He or she also accepts Letters of Credence from newly-appointed ambassadors / high commissioners. 

11. The Governor-General and Governors have duties that cover a broad range of responsibility - including the summoning and dissolution of the Federal Parliament / state parliaments, the swearing in of public officials, the reading of the Speech from the Throne at the opening of parliamentary sessions, the granting of Royal Assent, the use of reserve powers, and the awarding of honors to Australian citizens. 

12. In 1975, Governor-General Sir John Kerr - acting in the Queen's name - dismissed the Prime Minister during a budgetary stand-off, appointed a new one who got a budget through, then dissolved the Federal Parliament and called for new elections. 

13. The current Governor-General is Sir Peter Cosgrove.

14. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester - the Queen's late uncle and brother of George VI - served as the only Royal Governor-General in Australia's history from 1945 to 1947.

15. Tony Abbott is the Queen's 13th and current Prime Minister of Australia.

16. Elizabeth II is Patron of several Australian organizations, including: the Royal Humane Society of Australasia; the Partially Blinded Soldiers' Association of Australia; the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; the Scout Association of Australia; and the Mothers' Union in Australia.

17. The Queen and other members her family are not foreign royals in Australia. When in the country (or performing duties elsewhere on its behalf), they are members of the Australian Royal Family, owing to the Crown of Australia being separate and distinct from the Crown of the United Kingdom. 

18. Aside from the Queen, other members of the Australian Royal Family do not have Australian titles. Instead, they use their British titles as courtesy titles while in Australia. 

19. Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir-apparent to the Australian Crown. 

20. The Queen's full Australian title and style is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.