PRIME MINISTER APRIL 6, 1976
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ROYAL VISIT
I wish to inform the House that the dates for The Queen's
visit to Australia and New Zealand next year will be released
-from Buckingham Palace today.
Her Majesty plans to visit a number of Commonwealth countries
in 1977 as part of celebrations to mark the twenty-fifth
anniversary of her reign.
I was pleased to confirm to the Palace in December last, after
the Government had been elected to office, the invitation which
had been extended at an earlier date by the former Prime Minister.
The visit to Australia will be planned to begin with an arrival
in Canberra on Monday 7 March and overall it is likely to last
between two and three weeks. During that time Her Majesty who will
be accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, hopes to visit each
State -Capital.
The sequence has yet to be decided and precise dates have yet to
be settled.
This news will be received with a great deal of pleasure. Everyone
of The Queen's subjects in Australia will be delighted to know
that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are able to come again
and, spend time with us. They will receive a very warm welcome.
The primary purpose of the visit will be to celebrate the silver
jubilee of Her Majesty's acces~ sion to the Throne and the Australian
people will be pleased to know that The Queen and The Duke of
Edinburgh will be able to visit each State even though their
time in each will be limited.
In March 1974, Her Majesty was to have visited South Australia and
Western Australia and was greatly disappointed when her
constitutional duties in Britain brought about their cancellation.
For next year's visit The Queen has asked that her itinerary
include added time in both South Australia and Western Australia
as they have not been visited by her since 1963. ./ 2
-2-
The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA is expected to be in Australian waters
at the time of The Queen's visit and will be used as Her Majesty's
home wherever possible. It will also be a means of transport
and of rest between engagements, as well as being available
for hospitality purposes.