Vale Her Majesty The Queen
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty The Queen on 8 September 2022.
For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II has reigned as Australia’s Head of State. During her reign, The Queen consulted with 16 Prime Ministers, and 16 Governors-General have served in her name. She is the patron of more than 20 Australian charities and associations. The Queen visited Australia on 16 occasions, her first visit in 1954 and her last in 2011.
When visiting Australia in 2002, The Queen said: ‘For myself, I thank all Australians…I declare again…that my admiration, affection and regard for the people of Australia will remain, as it has been…constant, sure and true.’
‘It is with the greatest respect and enormous sadness that we now enter a period of mourning following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen,’ said DVA Secretary, Liz Cosson AM CSC.
As Sovereign, The Queen was Head of the British Armed Forces, as well as being the wife, mother and grandmother of individuals who served in the Forces. Throughout her reign, she remained a committed and informed champion of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, with a great empathy for the challenges faced by the Forces community.
The Queen's relationship with the Armed Forces began when, as Princess Elizabeth, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Forces as a full-time active member. During her time in the ATS, the Princess learnt to drive and trained as a mechanic.
Her Majesty was the Captain-General and Colonel-Chief of several Australian Defence Force corps and the patron of several Australian Defence Force units.
The accession of the new Sovereign is automatic. The ceremony proclaiming the accession will occur in Australia in coming days.
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a Statement on the Passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Australian Government will hold a series of events to honour The Queen’s life over a two-week period. For more information, please visit the website of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
You can leave an online condolence message or download a condolence book and mail your message to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. You can also view the photo gallery celebrating her life and the digital collection of official Royal Visits to Australia.
The condolences will be collated and sent to Buckingham Palace. The messages will also be archived by the Commonwealth and may be displayed at its national institutions, such as the National Library of Australia, to form a lasting record of this moment in history.
You can read more about the life of Her Majesty The Queen on the Royal Family website.
