Queen's Birthday Holiday

Much to the annoyance of republicans Australia is celebrating Queen’s Birthday on Monday, 8th June. The well-known republicans certainly have already written their malicious anti-Monarchist articles and the editors of our major newspapers have pre-selected them for publishing. We will know soon enough what inflamed them this year. I bet it will be a repeat of their old prejudices and false accusation.

Nothing new. We, however, Her Majesty’s loyal Australian subjects, not only enjoy the holiday, but we rejoice in celebrating our Monarch’s birthday.

The Queen's Official Birthday (Queen's Birthday) is celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries although it is also celebrated in Fiji, now a republic.

The exact date of the celebration varies from country to country, and it does not usually mark the real birthday of the sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II, was born on 21 April 1926).

Australia (except Western Australia), observes the Queen's Birthday on the second Monday in June, marking it with a public holiday. It also serves as the opening weekend to Australia's snow season.

Australians have enjoyed this holiday since 1788 when Governor Phillip declared a holiday on the birthday of King George III. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of King George V it was decided to keep the date at mid-year.


Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Australia, and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in his Royal Australian Air Force uniform. This is the official portrait of the Australian sovereign as it is handed out by Her Australian government.

The royal couple wear the insignia of The Order of Australia. The Order of Australia, instituted by Her Majesty The Queen on 14 February 1975, was established as "an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service".