High Commissioner presses the flesh in London as she gets to know the King
Australia’s acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has met with King Charles III and the Queen Consort to convey the nation’s condolences to their Majesties.
āAs you know, the King has a deep and broad relationship with Australia, and his Majestyās warmth for our country was evident in our brief conversation this afternoon,ā Lynette Wood told reporters in London on Monday morning Australian time.
āHaving visited Australia 16 times, including studying in Victoria, His Majesty knows Australia very well.ā
The diplomat, who was the first Australian official to formally meet the new King, also remarked on the mood in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, aged 96, late last week.
āWhat is really striking me in these past few days is the solemnity here in London, and the regard with which her Majesty is held and the strong support that is already there for King Charles III,ā she said.
Later this week, the acting commissioner will greet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley when they arrive in London ahead of the Queenās funeral on September 19 at Westminster Abbey.
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Both men will depart Australia on Thursday.
Hurley on Sunday proclaimed the new kingās accession in a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
After Hurley read out the proclamation, God Save the King was played and a 21-gun salute rang out across the nationās capital.
Flags were also raised to full mast to honour the King, before being lowered again on Sunday evening. Flags will remain at half mast until the day after the funeral.
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āAustralia is an unfinished product. It is now entering a new era,ā Mr Hurley told reporters on Sunday.
āMost Australians have not known a world without Queen Elizabeth II. Her passing is the end of an era.ā
A national memorial service for the Queen will be held in Canberra on September 22 as the country observes a one-off public holiday for a national day of mourning.
āI encourage all Australians, wherever you may be, to take time to pause and reflect on Her Majestyās extraordinary life of service,ā Mr Albanese said on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Victoria will on Monday proclaim the King as Australiaās new head of state.
Victoriaās Lieutenant-Governor, Chief Justice and other senior officers will swear oaths to the King in a proclamation ceremony at Government House.
All states except Victoria held their own proclamation ceremonies on Sunday.
Federal parliament has been suspended this week but some state parliaments will sit briefly on Tuesday to hear condolence motions.
In Victoria, MPs will also be required to swear allegiance to King Charles III.
Overnight in the UK, the Queenās coffin was driven from Balmoral Castle, where she died, to Scotlandās capital, Edinburgh.
Her body will be flown to London on Tuesday where it will remain at Buckingham Palace before being taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state for four days.
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