Reflections on… a Royal refrain

All heads of mission get the opportunity to meet the Queen during their brief tours of duty, but for Australian High Commissioner John Dauth, a Royal thread has run right through his life.

His earliest memory of seeing the Queen was during a visit when he was just a schoolboy. Little did he know that later as a young diplomat he would be seconded to work at Buckingham Palace as Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen and Press Secretary to the Prince of Wales from 1977 to 1980 which, aptly, included the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

“There have been many changes in Britain and the world since that time,” reflects the High Commissioner. “But what is consistently the most striking thing about the Queen in the intervening years has been the unchanging way in which she has remained steadfast in carrying out her duties as Monarch.”

Australia is, of course, one of 15 Realm countries which has the Queen as the head of state.

“Her Majesty’s interest and affection for Australia is well known and as we saw from her recent visit to Australia in October 2011, her 16th visit in fact, when people across the country warmly welcomed Her Majesty and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Australia will also welcome the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the end of the year.”

Those watching the Diamond Jubilee Pageant may have spotted the green and gold of Australia on the river too. “I’m also very proud that Australians participated in the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla.

Both Australian Surf life savers and the Royal Australian Navy were representing us. We were proud of them as we are proud of our Queen.”