Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled Queen Elizabeth II’s famous visits to Australia in an emotional tribute when Commonwealth leaders began honoring the monarch’s platinum jubilee.
The Prime Minister has celebrated a “life of service, faithfulness, integrity and humanity” and wished Her Majesty the “very warm congratulations” of the nation.
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“Sydney was a young city, and a young queen was here, full of promise and full of purpose,” he said.
“When we celebrate this jubilee, we can say that he fulfilled that purpose. His Majesty has largely fulfilled his promises.”
“His remains a life of unwavering loyalty and infallible dignity, grace under pressure, a warm welcome to every person he met.”
Australia and New Zealand were among the 54 Commonwealth countries that marked the jubilee on Thursday night, but Canberra was one of the first capitals to take part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon event.
Each city will light a royal purple lighthouse to honor its majesty.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the lighting of the Commonwealth Lighthouse at a Queens Platinum Jubilee event at Regatta Point in Canberra on Thursday, June 2, 2022. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen (Alex Ellinghausen)
Australia’s landmarks were bathed in purple light to celebrate the Queen’s reign.
Sydney Harbor enjoyed a purple light from 9pm onwards during a “seven minute for seven decades” celebration of the Queen’s reign.
The government will rename Canberra’s Aspen Island on Saturday, where the Queen opened the National Carrilon in 1970.
Sydney Harbor Bridge is lit with “Royal Purple” to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Sydney, Australia on Thursday, June 2, 2022. The Vivid Sydney Festival celebrated a unique lighting moment titled “7 Minutes for 7 Decades”, which includes the synchronized lighting of Sydney Harbor Bridge, Luna Park, buildings around Circular Quay and Sydney Harbor Ferries in Royal Purple to commemorate the 70’s years of service of the monarch. (Photo by AP / Mark Baker) (AP)
“I look forward to changing the official name of Aspen Island to Queen Elizabeth II Island later this week as a mark of Australia’s appreciation and respect for Her Majesty,” Albanese told early in the day.
Haberfield’s Lucy Kiely surpassed hundreds of entries for the international Song for the Commonwealth competition, with her lyrics sung by choirs from around the world during the official event.
The Sydney Government House was lit in royal purple for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. (9 News)
New Zealand will have a bright lighthouse in Wellington.
The Royal New Zealand Artillery Regiment, using four 25-pound guns, reacted during its 21-gun salute at Point Jerningham to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Wellington, New Zealand, on Thursday , June. 2, 2022. (Mark Mitchell / NZME via AP) (AP)
Other celebrations include the Royal New Zealand Artillery Regiment using four 25-pound guns to react during its 21-gun salute at Point Jerningham.