The Queen - and Queensland

Queen Elizabeth II, who died this morning aged 96, was the only reigning monarch to visit Queensland.

The Queen (picture courtesy Mark de Jong) arrived in Brisbane on March 6, 1954 – nine months after her coronation - and stayed at Government House with Queensland Governor Sir John Lavarack and his wife Lady Sybil Lavarack.

Her itinerary included regional visits to Bundaberg, Oakey, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and the Great Barrier Reef.

This was the first of 16 visits to Australia - in 1954, 1963, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2011 – and eight to Queensland.

Popular visitor

“Queen Elizabeth remained a welcome and popular visitor to Queensland’s shores throughout her life, celebrating our culture and traditions,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“She always provided reassurance in the aftermath of natural disasters and at times of concern for Queenslanders, sending messages of strength and support.

“On her final visit to Queensland in October 2011, Her Majesty paid tribute to the resilience and courage of Queenslanders in the aftermath of the floods and Cyclone Yasi.

“Her subsequent public walk along Brisbane’s South Bank, greeted by thousands of Queenslanders, emphasised the great affection in which she was held in Queensland, Australia and around the world.”

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth was served by 15 Australian Prime Ministers, 16 Governors-General of Australia and 13 Queensland Premiers.

The Prime Ministers were: Robert Menzies (1949-1966), Harold Holt 1966-1967, John McEwen 1967-1968, John Gorton 1968-1971, William McMahon (1971-1972), Gough Whitlam (1972-1975), Malcolm Fraser (1975-1983), Bob Hawke (1983-1991), Paul Keating (1991-1996), John Howard (1996-2007), Kevin Rudd (2007-2010 and 2013), Julia Gillard (2010-2013), Tony Abbot (2013-2015), Malcolm Turnbull (2015-2018), Scott Morrison (2018-2022), Anthony Albanese (2022-)

Devoted to duty

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was devoted to her duty, and she was always very popular and someone who generated an enormous amount of esteem,” the Premier said

“We are all very saddened by her death.”

Queenslanders will have an opportunity to express their grief and condolences at an online condolence book, which will be available at www.qld.gov.au/condolences. This will be presented to the Royal Family.

Government House will make arrangements for the public who wish to pay their respects at the statue of Her Majesty the Queen on the Estate.

Queen Elizabeth was also served by:

15 UK Prime Ministers: Winston Churchill (1951-55), Anthony Eden (1955-57), Harold McMillan (1957-1963), Alec Douglas-Home (1963-1964), Harold Wilson (1964-1970, 1974-1976), Edward Heath (1970-1974), Jim Callaghan (1976-1979), Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990), John Major (1990-1997), Tony Blair (1997-2007), Gordon Brown (2007-2010), David Cameron (2010-2016), Theresa may (2016-2019), Boris Johnson (2019-2022), Liz Truss (2022-)

14 US Presidents: Harry S Truman (1949-1953), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961), John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974), Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977), Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), Ronald W. Reagan (1981-1989), George Bush (1989-1993), Bill Clinton (1993-2001), George W Bush (2001-2009), Barack Obama (2009-2017), Donald Trump (2017-2021), Joe Biden (2021-)