Queen to play host to Gillard, Abbott



THE Queen will meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Government House for a quick chat – although protocol issues such as curtsying are unlikely to be on the agenda.


The visit from the PM is the first royal engagement of today, but will be followed shortly afterwards by another – this time a session with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Both talks are to remain strictly private, but Mr Abbott has hinted he’s willing to take any words of wisdom from the 85-year-old monarch, who’s visiting Australia for the 16th time.

“The Queen has had almost 60 years on the throne,” he said. “She’s seen opposition leaders and prime ministers come and go, if she wants to give me a little bit of her wisdom and experience I’ll be very grateful to receive it.”

The Queen and Prince Philip have received a rousing reception in Canberra so far, with thousands lining the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin yesterday to catch a glimpse of the royal couple as they cruised on the river in the navy’s Admiral’s Barge.

Here for 10 days, the royal couple spend half that time in the nation’s capital, with day-trips to Brisbane and Melbourne planned, as well as three days in Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Also today, Prince Philip will attend a reception for the youth award named in his honour in the afternoon, before he and the Queen head to Parliament House for an official reception.

Usually open to the public until 5pm, Parliament House will be closed an hour early to make way for the royal party.

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