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Australians for Constitutional Monarchy Defending our Democracy. ACM is Australia's preeminent and most effective Constitutional Monarchist organisation.

Few dates recur in Australia’s parliamentary history quite like 9 May.On 9 May 1901, the Duke of Cornwall and York, late...
09/10/2026

Few dates recur in Australia’s parliamentary history quite like 9 May.

On 9 May 1901, the Duke of Cornwall and York, later King George V, opened the first Commonwealth Parliament in Melbourne on behalf of King Edward VII.

On 9 May 1927, his son, the Duke of York, later King George VI, opened the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra.

Then, exactly 61 years later, on 9 May 1988, Queen Elizabeth II opened Australia’s present Parliament House on Capital Hill.

Three defining moments in the development of the Commonwealth Parliament, spanning Melbourne and Canberra and three generations of the Royal Family.

The repeated choice of 9 May provides a remarkable thread through Australia’s parliamentary history, from the first Parliament of the Commonwealth to the permanent home of the national legislature.

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On 9 May 1927, Australia’s Federal Parliament sat in Canberra for the first time.The Provisional Parliament House, today...
08/10/2026

On 9 May 1927, Australia’s Federal Parliament sat in Canberra for the first time.

The Provisional Parliament House, today known as Old Parliament House, was formally opened by the Duke of York, who would later become King George VI.

The opening brought together parliamentary government, the new national capital and a major royal occasion. Inside the Senate Chamber, the Duke delivered a message from King George V before the new parliamentary era in Canberra began.

Old Parliament House would remain the home of the Australian Parliament until 1988, witnessing more than six decades of political and social change.

It remains a defining landmark in Australia’s parliamentary history.

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Official resource: National Archives of Australia, Building the provisional Parliament House
National Archives of Australia: Building the provisional Parliament House

From the ACM archive: Tasmania provides a practical case study in why Governors exist.ACM’s commentary on the 2025 Tasma...
08/10/2026

From the ACM archive: Tasmania provides a practical case study in why Governors exist.

ACM’s commentary on the 2025 Tasmanian election examined the Governor’s role when questions arose about whether an alternative government could command parliamentary support.

The article suggests that this episode shows a Governor is not merely a ceremonial “rubber stamp”.

The broader constitutional lesson is worth examining independently of party politics. In a Westminster system, a Governor may sometimes need to assess whether a viable government can be formed, particularly where parliamentary confidence is uncertain.

Reserve powers are exercised only in rare circumstances, and their application can raise difficult constitutional questions. That is precisely why Australians benefit from understanding the conventions surrounding them before such circumstances arise.

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Image Source: Open House Hobart | Remi Chauvin

Sweden’s constitutional monarchyA parliamentary opening can reveal much about constitutional design.Sweden’s King opens ...
07/10/2026

Sweden’s constitutional monarchy

A parliamentary opening can reveal much about constitutional design.

Sweden’s King opens the parliamentary session, but only at the Speaker's request.

The elected Riksdag is the foremost representative of the Swedish people. It passes laws, determines the central government budget and scrutinises the work of the Government, while the King serves as Head of State without political power.

The ceremony therefore places continuity and democratic representation in the same room while assigning them different constitutional functions.

This is a feature of Sweden’s constitutional monarchy: the Head of State performs ceremonial and representative duties, while elected institutions and the Government handle political decision-making.

Australia’s constitutional structure is not identical to Sweden’s, but international comparisons like this are useful because they highlight how constitutional functions are actually distributed.

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Canada offers Australians an interesting comparison in how a viceregal office can perform a civic role within a constitu...
07/10/2026

Canada offers Australians an interesting comparison in how a viceregal office can perform a civic role within a constitutional monarchy.

Canada’s Governor General, Louise Arbour, has taken part in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemorations, including raising the Survivors’ Flag again and attending a commemorative gathering on Parliament Hill.

The Governor General’s message focused on listening to First Nations, Inuit and Métis voices and acknowledging the continuing effects of the residential school system.

The Canadian example is relevant to Australia because both countries combine parliamentary government with a Governor-General representing the King.

Canada’s official vice-regal website describes the Governor General as The King’s representative and the office as non-partisan and apolitical. Australia’s Governor-General likewise represents the King and performs constitutional, ceremonial and community duties.

The two countries have different histories, but the comparison shows how a viceregal office can participate in national remembrance and civic occasions while remaining institutionally separate from day-to-day party politics.

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Image Source: The Governor General of Canada

A proclamation from King Charles III has been sealed in a time capsule buried at the Washington Monument as the United S...
06/10/2026

A proclamation from King Charles III has been sealed in a time capsule buried at the Washington Monument as the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.

The capsule also contains a commemorative Royal Mint coin placed inside by the King and Queen during their State Visit to the United States in April, together with soil from Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire, the ancestral home of George Washington’s family.

The capsule is intended to remain sealed until 2276, when the United States marks the 500th anniversary of its independence.

The project reflects the long historical relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, using objects, documents and shared history to mark a diplomatic relationship that has changed substantially since 1776.

While this was a UK-US occasion, it is also an interesting contemporary example of the ceremonial role a constitutional monarch can play in international diplomacy.

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Image source: Irish News

Australia does not observe the Sovereign’s official birthday on one uniform date across every state and territory.In Que...
06/10/2026

Australia does not observe the Sovereign’s official birthday on one uniform date across every state and territory.

In Queensland, the Birthday of the Sovereign is observed on the first Monday in October.

It is a small but interesting example of Australia’s federal system, where states maintain their own public holiday arrangements while the Crown forms part of the constitutional framework at both Commonwealth and state level.

The different dates across Australia reflect the continuing role of the states within our federal constitutional system.

06/10/2026

The Princess of Wales recently spent time with volunteers and passengers from a community transport service, hearing how local connections can make a real difference in people’s everyday lives.

A simple engagement, but one centred on conversation, community and the people who help bring others together.

📷 The Prince and Princess of Wales

Today, Queensland observes the King’s Birthday public holiday.Under Queensland’s Holidays Act 1983, the Birthday of the ...
06/10/2026

Today, Queensland observes the King’s Birthday public holiday.

Under Queensland’s Holidays Act 1983, the Birthday of the Sovereign public holiday is observed on the first Monday in October. In 2026, that falls on Monday, 5 October.

The date is an official birthday observance rather than the King’s actual birthday.

His Majesty King Charles III was born on 14 November 1948.

The public holiday is also a reminder of the Crown’s continuing presence within Queensland’s constitutional arrangements.

The Governor of Queensland represents the King in the State and performs constitutional, ceremonial and community duties under Queensland’s system of government.

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The Princess Royal recently hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, presenting honours to recipients recognise...
05/10/2026

The Princess Royal recently hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, presenting honours to recipients recognised for distinguished service across public life, charity, policing, culture and the wider community.

Investiture ceremonies remain an important part of the honours system, formally recognising individuals whose service and contribution have made a lasting difference.

They also reflect one of the enduring public functions of the Royal Family: recognising service, achievement and commitment to community.

📷 The Royal Family

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