Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled Queen Elizabeth II's well-known visits to Australia in a transferring tribute as Commonwealth leaders started to honour monarch's Platinum Jubilee.
Albanese lit a beacon to the Queen in Canberra on Thursday night time shortly earlier than, on the opposite aspect of the world, the Queen emerged onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace for the climax to her birthday parade.
The prime minister hailed a "lifetime of service, constancy, integrity and humanity" and wished her majesty the nation's "very warmest congratulations".
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"Sydney was a younger metropolis, and a younger queen stood right here, stuffed with promise and stuffed with function," he mentioned.
"As we mark this Jubilee, we are able to say that she fulfilled that function. Her Majesty has amply stored her guarantees."
"Hers continues to be a lifetime of dependable loyalty unfailing dignity, grace below stress, a heat welcome for each particular person she met."
Australia and New Zealand have been amongst 54 Commonwealth international locations marking the jubilee on Thursday night time, however Canberra was one of many first capitals to take part within the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacon occasion.
Every metropolis will gentle a beacon in royal purple to honour her majesty.
Landmarks throughout Australia have been bathed in purple gentle to have a good time the Queen's reign.
Sydney Harbour basked in purple gentle from 9pm throughout a "seven minutes for seven many years" celebration of the Queen's reign.
The federal government will on Saturday rename Canberra's Aspen Island, the place the Queen opened the Nationwide Carrilon in 1970
"I sit up for formally renaming Aspen Island to Queen Elizabeth II Island later this week as a mark of Australia's appreciation and respect for Her Majesty," Albanese mentioned, earlier within the day.
Different key components of Australia's involvement within the celebration embody a Sydney mum who composed the official anthem for the jubilee which will probably be sung as beacons are lit the world over.
Lucy Kiely from Haberfield beat a whole bunch of entries within the worldwide competitors, Music for the Commonwealth, for her lyrics to be sung by choirs all over the world in the course of the official occasion.
New Zealand may have a beacon shining in Wellington.
Different celebrations embody the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery utilizing 4 25-pounder weapons to react throughout their 21-gun salute at Level Jerningham.