October 23rd, a Sunday, saw the Queen attending church services in Brisbane. Her Majesty, along with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, attended morning Worship at St. John’s Church.

That afternoon, a reception and lunch was hosted by the Governor-General for the royal couple.

October 24th was an “away day” in Brisbane. The Queen and the Duke hopped aboard a river boat and traveled up the Brisbane River to Southbank. Once ashore, they visited the Queensland Performing Arts Center.

That afternoon, the royals met with emergency response personnel and members of the communities affected by the floods. The Queen and Prince Philip attended a re-dedication Ceremony of Rainforest and the opening of Rain Bank.

The Queen and Prince Philip were back in Canberra on Tuesday, October 25th. They visited the Australian War Memorial and viewed the Afghanistan Memorial, where the Queen placed a wreath. Later, the royal couple met with Australian Defense Force Personnel at Orientation Hall.

October 26th: Prince Philip and The Queen participated in another Away Day, this time in Melbourne, where they opened the Royal Children’s Hospital. That afternoon they toured Melbourne, starting with a visit to the Ian Potter Centre, National Gallery of Victoria; a walk through Federation Square and a ride on a Melbourne Tram; attended a reception hosted by the Governor of Victoria at Government House. The Queen was resplendent in pink throughout.

After the Away Day activities, The Queen and The Duke departed Melbourne for Perth.

On Thursday, October 27th, the royals paid a visit to Clontarf Aboriginal College. The Duke of Edinburgh was especially keen to see the sporting facilities. Afterwards, they attended a Garden Party at Government House, where the Queen turned out in her second stunning turquoise and white ensemble for the day.

Approximately one hundred students from across Western Australia lined a path to the lower gardens, when the Duke stopped to chat. Philip asked why the students were in pairs, and when told it was because they were the head boys and girls, he said in his typical blunt fashion: “It’s obvious they didn’t choose the attractive ones then”. (!)

Premier Colin Barnett was pleased to have the royal visitors come to the country, and he thanked the Queen and Prince Philip for visiting WA and presented the royals with a gift – a book of drawings of wild flowers from the Eastern Goldfields by Phillipa Nikulinsky.

October 28th: Her Majesty arrived at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The opening featured a vast array of leaders from around the world: 25 Prime Ministers, 10 Presidents, five Vice-Presidents, two Deputy Prime Ministers, one High Commissioner, a lord and the Sultan of Brunei.

“I have had the good fortune, together with Prince Philip, to attend many CHOGMs over many years. Their importance has always been in precise relationship to their relevance: always being attuned to the issues of the day, and always looking to the future with a sense of vision and practical action to match. In your deliberations over the days ahead, you have the encouragement of the whole Commonwealth to maintain this vital tradition.” – The Queen’s speech at the CHOGM

That evening, the royal couple attended a banquet at the Pan Pacific Hotel. For this occasion, the Queen busted out her best parure for the occasion – the brilliant aquamarine set in honor of the brilliantly blue ocean that surrounds Australia.

These gems are gifts from Brazil. The earrings and matching necklace were a Coronation gift to The Queen from the President and People of Brazil in 1953.

The stones sit inside a diamond and platinum setting. A few years later, in 1958, a bracelet and matching brooch were presented to The Queen by the Brazilian Government as a matching set to the original Coronation presents. Elizabeth then requested that royal jeweler Garrard complete the parure with a stunning tiara.

On Saturday, October 29th, the Queen and the Duke were feted by the Australian community during “The Big Aussie BBQ”. In the spirit of outdoor eating, the Queen topped off her elegant maroon and white outfit with a hat eerily reminiscent of a marshmallow. S’mores, anyone?

And so…

Elizabeth and Philip set off from Australia back to the U.K. after the barbeque. It was a highly successful visit and one that the Australian people will not soon forget. Her Majesty charmed everyone she met, and though there were one or two gaffes (Gillard’s curtsey controversy and Philip’s quips!) the royal couple made a happy and favorable impression on their Commonwealth neighbors. It also gave the United Kingdom a chance to present its history-making change to the succession law.

Vivat Regina! (And God Bless The Duke!)

On October 22nd, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended the Presentation of Colours to the Royal Military College, Duntroon. It was a special presentation – the Royal Military College celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

The Queen previously presented her colors to the RMC during her visits in 1957, 1970 and 1988.

After the parade, the Queen met with the granddaughter of a Military Cross recipient. Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Pembroke was awarded the Cross by the Queen during her visit in 1953.

Later that day, Prince Philip attended the Commonwealth Study Conference reception.

While in Canberra, the Queen expressed her sympathy and her admiration for the people who dealt with heavy flooding in Australia and the earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Queen expressed her sentiments during Friday’s reception at Parliament House in Canberra [read the full speech]. Earlier in the day the Queen held formal meetings with both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Prince Philip, meanwhile, attended a reception for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Queen’s Australia Trip May Overturn Succession Law

British Prime Minister David Cameron, with the backing of the Queen, has discussed overturning the ancient law of primogeniture in the United Kingdom.

Currently, if a first-born royal child is a girl, she will be automatically superseded in the line of succession if a male sibling is born.

With the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton in April, the topic of primogeniture has been a major talking point. It has been deemed out of date in the current modern era, and the Queen is set to support the change. Her Majesty needs the approval of Commonwealth countries to enact such a change, so the royal tour is the time to seize the moment.

David Howell, the Foreign Office minister for the Commonwealth, said that he believed the matter of royal succession “will be discussed and I believe approved at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth”.

Someone was feeling needy and tried to gain the Queen’s attention by mooning her. What is she thinking?

Thanks to The Star!

The day kicked off with a meeting at Government House between Her Majesty and Governor-General Quentin Bryce. The royal couple then attended the tree planting ceremony during their tour of the grounds.

The Queen and Prince Philip then traveled by boat to attend the Floriade flower festival in Canberra. The royal couple met with Floriade staff and volunteers, observing the stunning floral displays.

It is the Queen’s 16th visit to Australia. She first toured to the country in 1954, newly crowned, becoming the first reigning monarch to set foot on Australian soil. Philip was by her side for this historic visit, as well.

Some reports say that this may be the last visit to the country for the 85-year-old Queen and her 90-year-old husband. It is thought that the next major visit will be from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A sweet moment in the royal tour: A veteran of the Korean War was reunited with the Queen 60 years after he was recognized by the monarch for his heroism.

Wednesday, October 19th (Day 1):

Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were greeted at the Royal Australian Air Force base by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Australia’s Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.

Bryce curtsied as protocol required upon greeting the Queen, but republican Gillard chose to shake the Queen’s hand and give a slight bow. It caused quite a stir and Gillard was pegged as “rude”.

“If she isn’t a royalist, it’s not a matter of that; it’s a matter of paying courtesy to a queen, to the Queen,” said June Dally-Watkins, an Australian etiquette expert.

Gillard said she was told to do what she “was most comfortable with”.

(It seems like Gillard is just plain confused about her role and the etiquette expected.)

Today, the second day of the tour, the royal couple meet with Bryce, the Queen’s representative in Australia, then continue on to visit Floriade, Australian’s version of the Chelsea Flower Show. The Queen and the Duke are also due for a tour of the gardens of Government House.