Monarchy of Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King of Australia |
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Federal
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| Charles III since 8 September 2022 |
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| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| Heir apparent | William, Prince of Wales |
The monarchy of Australia is a big part of how Australia is governed. It means that a hereditary monarch (a king or queen whose position is passed down through their family) is Australia's sovereign and head of state. Australia is a constitutional monarchy, which means the monarch's powers are set by a constitution. This system is based on the Westminster system from the UK, but it also has special features unique to Australia.
Today, the monarch is King Charles III, who became King on 8 September 2022. In Australia, the King is represented by the Governor-General (currently Samantha Mostyn). Each state also has a Governor who represents the King. The King chooses the Governor-General based on the advice of Australia's Prime Minister. He chooses state Governors based on the advice of the state Premiers. These are the only jobs the King must do in person for Australia.
Australian law says that the person who is King or Queen of the United Kingdom is also the King or Queen of Australia. However, since the 1940s, the Australian monarchy has been a separate role. This means the King acts only on the advice of Australian ministers, not British ones. Australia is one of 15 Commonwealth realms, which are independent countries that share the same person as their monarch and head of state.
Contents
Australia's Monarchy: How it Works
Australia's Own Crown
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The King of Australia is the same person as the monarch of 14 other Commonwealth realms. But each of these countries is independent. The monarchy in Australia is separate from the monarchy in the UK. Since the Australia Act 1986, the British government cannot tell the monarch what to do about Australia. For Australian matters, the monarch only listens to advice from Australian federal ministers. For matters in an Australian state, the monarch listens to advice from that state's ministers.
Over time, Australia's Crown (meaning the monarch's role in Australia) became separate from the UK's Crown. Some people say this happened in 1926 or 1930, when it was decided that governors-general would no longer represent the UK government. Others suggest it happened when Australia became fully independent, like in 1931 (when the UK Statute of Westminster was passed) or 1986 (when the Australia Acts made sure UK laws couldn't change Australian laws). By 1948, the separation was clear, especially with Australia creating its own citizenship laws.
The King's Title
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The full title of the current monarch is King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.
Before 1953, the Australian monarch had the same title as the UK monarch. But after discussions, Australia wanted its own specific title. So, in 1953, a new title was adopted that mentioned Australia separately. This was made law by the Royal Style and Titles Act 1953.
In 1973, the Australian government changed the title again. They removed mentions of the UK and "Defender of the Faith" because they felt these didn't fit Australia. The new law made the title more "distinctively Australian."
Who Becomes King or Queen?
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The rules for who becomes the next monarch are based on old laws and newer Australian laws. Generally, the oldest child of the current monarch inherits the throne. However, there are rules that say the heir must be a member of the Church of England and cannot be a Roman Catholic.
These rules have changed over many centuries. Important British laws like the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 set limits on who could inherit the throne. When Australia was settled, these laws applied here too.
Later, Australia gained more independence. In 2011, all Commonwealth countries agreed to new changes, known as the Perth Agreement. These changes removed the rule that male heirs had preference over female heirs. They also allowed the monarch to marry a Roman Catholic. Australia passed its own laws to make these changes official in 2015.
When a Monarch Dies
When a monarch dies or steps down (this is called a "demise of the Crown"), the next person in line automatically becomes the new monarch. There's no need for a special vote or ceremony for this to happen. It's customary for the Governor-General and state Governors to publicly announce the new monarch. After a period of mourning, a coronation ceremony takes place in the UK. This is a symbolic event and not needed for the sovereign to start reigning.
Money Matters
Australia does not pay for the King or the wider royal family's personal expenses or their homes outside Australia. When the monarch visits Australia, the Australian Government pays for their travel and other costs. However, the Australian Government does pay the Governor-General's salary and for the upkeep of their official homes in Australia.
For example, King Charles III's visit to Australia in 2024 cost $640,000.
Royal Homes in Australia
The Governor-General has two official homes: Government House in Canberra (also called Yarralumla) and Admiralty House in Sydney.
The Monarch's Role in Government
Head of State Role
Australia's government system uses both written rules (the Constitution) and unwritten rules (traditions). The Constitution doesn't actually use the words "head of state." However, the Parliament of Australia says that the monarch is Australia's head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.
The Governor-General's website says that the Governor-General acts as Australia's head of state in practice. A well-known book on Australian law says: "The Queen, as represented in Australia by the governor-general, is Australia's head of state."
The Executive Branch
The only job the monarch must do personally is appoint the Governor-General. The Governor-General's main duty is to appoint the Prime Minister. This is usually the leader of the political party that has the most support in the House of Representatives.
The Governor-General also appoints other ministers who form the Cabinet, based on the Prime Minister's advice. These ministers are responsible to the Parliament and the people. The monarch is kept informed about changes in the Australian government.
The Prime Minister and the Federal Executive Council advise the Governor-General on how to use their powers. These powers include declaring war, keeping peace, directing the Australian Defence Force, and making international agreements. The Governor-General can also call Parliament meetings and elections. These powers don't need Parliament's approval.
The monarch's and Governor-General's roles are mostly symbolic. They represent the legal authority behind the government. However, the Governor-General can use these powers on their own in very unusual situations. For example, during a constitutional crisis in 1975, Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam because of a disagreement over government funding.
The Parliament's Role
The Parliament includes the sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The monarch or Governor-General doesn't take part in making laws, except by giving "royal assent" (signing a bill to make it a law). The Governor-General is also responsible for calling and ending Parliament sessions and dissolving Parliament for elections.
All laws in Australia (except in the ACT) need royal assent to become official. This is done by the Governor-General, a state Governor, or an Administrator (in the Northern Territory) signing the bill. The Governor-General can also hold back a bill for the King's personal decision, but this is very rare. The King also has the power to reject a bill within one year of it being signed, but this power has never been used and is very unlikely to be used in the future.
The Courts' Role
The monarch is traditionally seen as the "fount of justice," meaning they are the source of legal authority. However, the monarch doesn't personally decide court cases. Legal actions for serious crimes are brought in the monarch's name, often shortened to R v [Name] (where 'R' stands for Rex for King or Regina for Queen).
The power to grant a pardon (mercy) also belongs to the monarch. In the states, this power is used by the Governors.
States and Territories
Each Australian state has a Governor who is appointed by the monarch based on the state Premier's advice. These Governors represent the monarch directly and carry out the monarch's duties in their state. The Northern Territory has an Administrator who does a similar job, appointed by the Governor-General. The Australian Capital Territory doesn't have a similar position.
Cultural Importance
Royal Visits and Duties
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The monarch and their family often take part in important events in Australia. These include national celebrations like Australia Day, opening Olympic Games, award ceremonies, and anniversaries.
Other royals also attend ceremonies involving Australia and other Commonwealth countries overseas. For example, King Charles III (when he was Prince Charles) attended Anzac Day ceremonies at Gallipoli in 2015.
Royal family members also donate privately to Australian charities, like Queen Elizabeth II donating to the Red Cross after bushfires.
The Crown and the Australian Defence Force
The Australian Constitution says that the Governor-General, as the monarch's representative, is the commander-in-chief of Australia's naval and military forces. In reality, the Governor-General follows the advice of the Minister for Defence. All members of the Australian Defence Force swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Australian Monarch.
Australian naval ships use the prefix His Majesty's Australian Ship (HMAS). Many parts of the defence force, like the Royal Australian Air Force, also have "royal" in their names.
Members of the royal family often attend military ceremonies. For example, King Charles III laid wreaths at the Australian War Memorial in 2024 and reviewed the Royal Australian Navy.
Monarchs of Australia are given the highest ranks in each part of the Defence Force. In 2024, King Charles III was appointed to the honorary ranks of admiral of the fleet, field marshal, and marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force. Some royal family members are also Colonels-in-Chief of Australian regiments.
Australian Royal Symbols
Royal symbols are the ways we see and hear the Australian monarchy. The main symbol is the monarch themselves. The monarch's face has been on all Australian coins since 2024, with King Charles III's portrait now in use. The monarch's image also used to be on most Australian stamps until 1973. Queen Elizabeth II's portrait is currently on the five-dollar banknote, but this will be replaced with a design showing Indigenous Australian culture.
A crown is shown on the Queensland and Victorian state badges and on many Australian medals and awards. For example, the crown on the Order of Australia insignia shows the monarch's role as the Head of the Order.
Australia also has a royal anthem, "God Save the King" (or "God Save the Queen"). It was Australia's national anthem until 1984. Now, it's used for official events when the monarch or a royal family member is present.
The King's Flag for Australia, approved in 2024, is flown when King Charles is visiting Australia. It shows his presence. The flag has six sections from the Australian Coat of Arms, surrounded by a border.
The King's Official Birthday is a public holiday in Australia. It's usually celebrated on the second Monday in June, except in Queensland and Western Australia. Celebrations include military ceremonies and the Australian Birthday Honours list, which recognises people for their achievements.
History of Australia's Monarchy
The story of Australia's monarchy becoming its own separate thing started in 1770. That's when Captain James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for King George III. Over time, colonies were set up across Australia, all ruled by the UK monarch.
In 1901, the six colonies joined together to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This happened after Queen Victoria approved the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. At first, the UK monarch still had a lot of power over Australia.
After World War I, Australia and other countries wanted more independence. In 1926, it was agreed that the UK and these countries were "equal in status" but still connected by loyalty to the Crown. In 1930, the British government agreed that Australia's Cabinet could advise the monarch directly on choosing the Governor-General. The Statute of Westminster 1931 (adopted by Australia in 1942) further separated the Crowns.
In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to visit Australia. Huge crowds welcomed her. Her son, Charles III (then Prince Charles), even went to school in Australia in 1967.
In 1973, Australia changed the monarch's title to Queen of Australia, making it unique to the country. The final step in separating the Australian monarchy from the British one happened with the Australia Act 1986. This law removed the last ways British laws could affect Australian laws and stopped appeals from Australian state courts to London. This made Australia's monarchy truly distinct.
In 1999, Australia held a vote on whether to become a republic (have an Australian head of state instead of the monarch). The idea was defeated, partly because people couldn't agree on what kind of republic Australia should be. Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia after the vote and said she would continue to serve as Queen of Australia.
Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for a very long time, died on 8 September 2022. Her son, Charles III, became King. His coronation happened on 6 May 2023. In October 2024, King Charles III became the first reigning King of Australia to visit the country.
Debate About the Monarchy
Public Opinion
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People have been asked in polls about their support for the monarchy since 1953. Support for the monarchy went down in the late 1990s but then rose again. After King Charles became monarch in 2022, more polls were done, showing different levels of support for Australia becoming a republic.
Political Discussion
Some politicians, like former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, have said they would like Australia to become a republic. However, she also said the monarch is "a vital constitutional part of Australian democracy." Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also said he wants Australia to have an appointed head of state, but he hasn't set a date for a vote.
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Some people who want a republic say that large crowds at royal visits are just because people like celebrities. But others argue that having the royal family visit can be very meaningful for communities, especially after difficult times like bushfires.
Former Governor-General Michael Jeffery has said that Australia's constitutional monarchy has helped keep the country politically stable.
Some people have even suggested the idea of a unique Australian monarch who lives in Australia. Another idea is to have an Indigenous "First Elder" as the head of state.
List of Monarchs of Australia
Colonial Period (1770–1901)
| Portrait | King or Queen (Born–Died) Royal Family |
Reign over Australia | Full Name | Spouse | |
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| Start | End | ||||
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George III (1738–1820) House of Hanover |
29 April 1770 | 29 January 1820 | George William Frederick | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Governors of New South Wales: Arthur Phillip, John Hunter, Philip King, William Bligh, Lachlan Macquarie | |||||
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George IV (1762–1830) House of Hanover |
29 January 1820 | 26 June 1830 | George Augustus Frederick | Caroline of Brunswick |
| Governors of New South Wales: Sir Thomas Brisbane, Sir Ralph Darling | |||||
| Governor of Western Australia: Sir James Stirling | |||||
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William IV (1765–1837) House of Hanover |
26 June 1830 | 20 June 1837 | William Henry | Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen |
| Governor of New South Wales: Sir Richard Bourke | |||||
| Governor of Western Australia: Sir James Stirling | |||||
| Governor of South Australia: Sir John Hindmarsh | |||||
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Victoria (1819–1901) House of Hanover |
20 June 1837 | 1 January 1901 | Alexandrina Victoria | Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Governors of New South Wales: Sir George Gipps, Sir Charles FitzRoy, Sir William Denison, Sir John Young, Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore, Sir Hercules Robinson, Lord Augustus Loftus, Charles Wynn-Carington, 3rd Baron Carrington, Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey, Sir Robert Duff, Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden, William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp | |||||
| Governors of Western Australia: Sir James Stirling, John Hutt, Sir Andrew Clarke, Charles Fitzgerald, Sir Arthur Kennedy, John Hampton, Sir Benjamin Pine, Sir Frederick Weld, Sir William Robinson, Sir Harry Ord, Sir Frederick Broome, Sir Gerard Smith | |||||
| Governors of South Australia: George Gawler, Sir George Grey, Frederick Robe, Sir Henry Young, Sir Richard MacDonnell, Sir Dominick Daly, Sir James Fergusson, Sir Anthony Musgrave, Sir William Jervois, Sir William Robinson, Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore, Sir Thomas Buxton, Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson | |||||
| Governors of Victoria: Sir Charles Hotham, Sir Henry Barkly, Sir Charles Darling, John Manners-Sutton, 3rd Viscount Canterbury, Sir Sir George Bowen, George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby, Sir Henry Loch, John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey | |||||
| Governors of Tasmania: Sir Henry Young, Sir Thomas Browne, Sir Charles Du Cane, Sir Frederick Weld, Sir John Lefroy, Sir George Strahan, Sir Robert Hamilton, Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston | |||||
| Governors of Queensland: Sir George Bowen, Samuel Blackall, George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby, Sir William Cairns, Sir Arthur Kennedy, Sir Anthony Musgrave, Sir Henry Norman, Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington | |||||
Federation (1901–Present)
British Crown (1901–1939)
| Portrait | King or Queen (Born–Died) Royal Family |
Reign | Full Name | Spouse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | ||||
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Victoria (1819–1901) House of Hanover |
1 January 1901 | 22 January 1901 | Alexandrina Victoria | Widowed |
| Governor-General: John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun | |||||
| Prime Minister: Edmund Barton | |||||
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Edward VII (1841–1910) House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
22 January 1901 | 6 May 1910 | Albert Edward | Alexandra of Denmark |
| Governors-General: John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote, William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin, Chris Watson, George Reid, Alfred Deakin, Andrew Fisher, Alfred Deakin | |||||
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George V (1865–1936) House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (until 1917) House of Windsor (after 1917) |
6 May 1910 | 20 January 1936 | George Frederick Ernest Albert | Mary of Teck |
| Governors-General: William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman, Sir Ronald Ferguson, Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster, John Baird, 1st Baron Stonehaven, Sir Isaac Isaacs | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Andrew Fisher, Joseph Cook, Andrew Fisher, Billy Hughes, Stanley Bruce, James Scullin, Joseph Lyons | |||||
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Edward VIII (1894–1972) House of Windsor |
20 January 1936 | 11 December 1936 | Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David | None |
| Governors-General: Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie | |||||
| Prime Minister: Joseph Lyons | |||||
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George VI (1895–1952) House of Windsor |
11 December 1936 | 3 September 1939 | Albert Frederick Arthur George | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |
| Governors-General: Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Joseph Lyons, Sir Earle Page, Robert Menzies | |||||
Australian Crown (1939–Present)
The exact date when the Australian Crown became separate from the British Crown is debated, but it likely happened between the 1930s and 1940s.
| Portrait | King or Queen (Born–Died) Royal Family |
Reign | Full Name | Spouse | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | ||||
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George VI (1895–1952) House of Windsor |
3 September 1939 | 6 February 1952 | Albert Frederick Arthur George | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon |
| Governors-General: Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, Sir William McKell | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Robert Menzies, Arthur Fadden, John Curtin, Frank Forde, Ben Chifley, Robert Menzies | |||||
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Elizabeth II (1926–2022) House of Windsor |
6 February 1952 | 8 September 2022 | Elizabeth Alexandra Mary | Philip Mountbatten |
| Governors-General: Sir William McKell, Sir William Slim, William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil, William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, Richard Casey, Baron Casey, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir John Kerr, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Ninian Stephen, William Hayden, Sir William Deane, Peter Hollingworth, Michael Jeffery, Dame Quentin Bryce, Sir Peter Cosgrove, David Hurley | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Sir Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, John McEwen, John Gorton, William McMahon, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese | |||||
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Charles III (born 1948) House of Windsor |
8 September 2022 | Present | Charles Philip Arthur George | Camilla Shand |
| Governors-General: David Hurley, Samantha Mostyn | |||||
| Prime Ministers: Anthony Albanese | |||||
Timeline of Monarchs Since Federation
See also
In Spanish: Monarquía en Australia para niños
- Australian State Coach
- List of Australian organisations with royal patronage
- Royal tours of Australia
- List of Commonwealth visits made by Elizabeth II
- List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
- List of sovereign states headed by Elizabeth II
- Australian peers and baronets
- Wattle Queen
- King-in-Parliament
