SYMBOLS AND CEREMONIES

Australia has its own symbols and celebrations to represent its Sovereign.

Unlike the United Kingdom, The Queen's birthday is celebrated in Australia as a public holiday. Except in the state of Western Australia, it is celebrated on the second Monday of June. In Western Australia, The Queen's birthday holiday is celebrated in late September or early October. As in the United Kingdom, none of these dates coincide with The Queen's actual birthday, which is 21 April.

The birthday is also marked by the publication of a list of recipients of the Order of Australia. The Queen of Australia is the Sovereign of the Order of Australia, which recognises service to Australia or to humanity.
 
In addition, each year, Australia Post issues a stamp commemorating The Queen's birthday.

Celebrating the Sovereign's birthday dates back to the late eighteenth century, when the birthday of King George III was marked with festivities in Australia.

When travelling in Australia, The Queen uses her special Australian standard.

This is made up of the shield of Australia (which features six parts, one for each state), surrounded by an ermine border. The whole is overlaid with a gold seven-pointed star, a blue disk, a gold chaplet of roses and a crowned E.
 
The Queen's portrait features on all Australian coinage, and on the five-dollar note.

The Australian State portrait of The Queen is one of the most familiar and well-loved images of Queen Elizabeth in the country.

Painted by Sir William Dargie in 1954, it depicts a youthful Queen in a yellow dress with a sprig of wattle on her shoulder.

Today the painting hangs in Parliament House, Canberra.