PM Transcripts

Jj AUSTRALIA~ g
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 8 MAY 1987
I am pleased to announce there will be three Royal Visits in 1988
to Australia as part of our Bicentennial celebrations.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have accepted my invitation.
on behalf of the Government and people of Australia to visit for
approximately three weeks in late April and early may. The tour
is expected to include visits to western Australia, Tasmania,
Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT.
Her Majesty has kindly agreed to perform the opening ceremony at
the new Parliament House in Canberra during her visit as well as
opening World Expo ' 88 in Brisbane on 30 April.
In addition tc The Queen's visit, visits by the The Prince and
Princess of Wales and The Duke and Duchess of York are also
planned. The Prince and Princess of Wales will be in Australia in late
January and early February and highlights of their visit will be
the Australia Day celebrations and the International wool Cloth
of the Year Awards and Fashion Show in Sydney.
I expect that it will be possible for The Queen, The Duke of
Edinburgh and The Prince and Princess of Wales between them to
visit all States and Territories during their visits.'
Possible dates for the visit by The Duke and Duchess of York are
mid-September to early October. The Duke of York, as The Queen's
personal representative, will be the Reviewing officer at the
International Naval Review in Sydney on 1 October 1988.
1988 will be a landmark in the history of Australia and our
Bicentenary will be celebrated by Australians in all States and
Territories with a year-long program of festive and commemorative
events. It is especially appropriate that our Royal Visitors share in
these celebrations and I know I speak for all Australians when I
say that they will be given an especially warm and sincere
welcome. I