They did but see her passing by, but it looks as if our most arch monarchist former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott are not on the guest list for the funeral of the Queen on September 19.
The list took shape on Tuesday, with 10 ”ordinary Australians” named as joining Anthony Albanese, Governor-General David Hurley, the acting high commissioner to the UK, and their partners in winging back to what was once called ”the mother country” or even ”home”. Australia is also helping fly some South Pacific leaders to the funeral.
The ABC reported that Albanese said Buckingham Palace had instructed realm nations to invite 10 “everyday” citizens who had made contributions to their communities. They include Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, horse trainer Chris Waller, and Senior Australians of the Year Valmai Dempsey. RSL president Greg Melick and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith will also join the mourners.
No word yet on whether the state governors and territory administrators are getting a gong.
To be fair on Howard (whose 25 encounters with Her Majesty must have made them as familiar as families gathering for the weekly rissole night) and Abbott, there seems to be no PMs who did not feel a fondness for their monarch. Malcolm Turnbull, tribune of the republic referendum of 1999, shed tears. Paul Keating, branded the Lizard of Oz by a British tabloid in 1992 for gently guiding Betty towards Pattie (Dame Pattie Menzies) at a reception, issued a thoughtful tribute.
Keating is one of the last three survivors of the Whitlam Labor government, which was dismissed by the governor-general (the Queen’s representative) in 1975. Another survivor, Bill Hayden, served as governor-general. No hard feelings in that lot.
Mark Sawyer is a journalist with extensive experience in print and digital media in Sydney, Melbourne and rural Australia.