Queen arrives in Australia for 10-day tour

2011-10-19T10:30:36Z

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was greeted by hundreds of flag-waving schoolchildren and a 21-gun salute as she began her 16th and possibly last visit to her realm Down Under on Wednesday.

The queen, who will open a Commonwealth leaders meeting in Perth later this month, touched down at 0640 GMT in Queen Elizabeth II was greeted by hundreds of flag-waving schoolchildren and a 21-gun salute as she began her 16th and possibly last visit to her realm Down Under on Wednesday.

The queen, who will open a Commonwealth leaders meeting in Perth later this month, touched down at 0640 GMT in Canberra, where she and husband Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Australia on Wednesday for her 16th visit to the former penal colony on what will perhaps be the 85-year-old monarch's last tour Down Under.

The queen, who will open a Commonwealth leaders meeting in Perth, is due to touch down at 0700 GMT in

Nostalgia at Queen's 'farewell' Australia tour

2011-10-17T15:30:39Z

Australians prepare to welcome Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for her 16th tour Down Under this week, with the possibility of it being her last sparking renewed interest in the 85-year-old monarch.

Despite Australia's reputation as an egalitarian, irreverent and youthful nation, and its fitful starts towards ...

Australia welcomes Queen's visit

2011-09-24T02:30:37Z

Australia welcomed next month's visit by Queen Elizabeth II to an area affected by this year's huge floods, with Queensland Premier Anna Bligh saying it will boost those hit by the disaster.

The October 19-29 tour by the Queen and her husband Prince Philip...

Royal wedding douses New Zealand's republican flame

2011-05-04T08:30:24Z

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is being credited with rekindling the loyalty of New Zealand, the likely future king's most distant realm.

A survey released Wednesday showed approval of the British royal family had...

Australia, New Zealand in royal wedding fever

2011-04-29T08:30:41Z

Australians may pride themselves on their fiercely independent spirit, but the nation indulged royally in wedding fever as Britain's -- and their -- future king tied the knot on Friday.

Even heavy rain reminiscent of the motherland failed to keep diehard fans from gathering in Sydney's Opera House district to watch Prince William ...

'Lord Kevin' plans Kiwi-style royal wedding celebration

2011-04-28T13:30:47Z

As European nobility gather in Westminster Abbey for Friday's royal wedding, one British lord is content to watch the nuptials on television in the small New Zealand farming town he calls home.

The 64th Lord of Little Neston, known as Kevin Couling to his friends, dearly wishes he could be in

Royals not amused: Australia axes wedding satire

2011-04-28T04:30:28Z

Australia's national broadcaster has been forced to axe a satirical live commentary of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding after the Royal Family made clear they were not amused.

The Australian Broa...

Royal wedding sidelines Australia republic drive

2011-04-26T02:30:56Z

Their views could not be further at odds, but the upcoming royal wedding has Australia's royalists and republicans in rare and unlikely agreement -- the monarchy is digging in Down under.

A former British penal colony famed for its boisterous irreverence, it is perhaps unsurprising that Australia is usually seen as the most republican of Queen Elizabeth II

Australian support for republic slumps: poll

2011-04-25T06:30:09Z

Support for Australia becoming a republic has fallen to a 17-year low, according to a poll published on Monday, just days ahead of Britain's royal wedding.

The Newspoll survey found that almost as many Australians wanted to retain ties to Britain's royal family as those who wanted a republic, with support for severing links falling to 41 percent -- the lowest level since Ma...

William and Kate say 'give to charity, not to us'

2011-04-25T05:30:57Z

What do you give the couple who have everything? The answer, in the case of Prince William and Kate Middleton, is a donation to charity.

Not for them the entire roomful of antique furniture including a four-poster bed in maple which Canada gave to William's mother Diana and Prince William and Kate Middleton, is a donation to charity.

Not for them the entire roomful of antique furniture including a four-poster bed in maple which Canada gave to William's mother Diana and New Zealand on Monday supported changing royal succession rules to allow Prince William and Kate Middleton's first born to become monarch regardless of its gender.

Prime Minister John Key said New Zealand backed a proposal to scrap t...

Kate and Wills snatched in Aussie heist

2011-04-15T13:30:24Z

Australian thieves have made off with a life-size cutout of Prince William and his bride in a midnight heist from a luxury hotel offering special wedding stays, a spokeswoman said Friday.

The cardboard couple had become something of a drawcard since being erected in the lobby of Melbourne's Hotel Windsor earlier this year, bringing a steady crowd of guests and locals keen for a h...

Pacific island defends stamps that part Will and Kate

2011-04-12T04:30:30Z

The Pacific nation of Niue on Tuesday defended "unusual" royal wedding stamps which raised eyebrows around the world by splitting Prince William from his bride-to-be Kate Middleton.

The stamps, approved by the Queen, have a perforated line between the royal couple. Together they are worth NZ$5.80 (US$4.53) ...

Australia unveils royal wedding stamp

2011-04-11T07:30:16Z

Australia launched a special stamp to commemorate Britain's pending royal nuptials Monday, with a local and international issue featuring Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton.

Australia Post said it was "delighted" to celebrate the...

Queen to visit Australia in October: palace

2011-03-24T14:30:45Z

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will visit Australia in October, hot on the heels of their grandson Prince William who has just wrapped up a trip there, the palace said Thursday.

The visit -- the 16th by the British monarch and...

Prince William tours quake-hit Christchurch

2011-03-16T19:30:25Z

Prince William arrived in earthquake-devastated Christchurch on Thursday, the first stop on a tour of disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia.

The Prince, who is travelling without his bride-to-be

William and Kate want charity donations, not gifts

2011-03-16T10:30:51Z

Prince William and Kate Middleton on Wednesday asked for anyone intending to send them wedding gifts to instead give the money to charity, including to the New Zealand government's earthquake appeal.

Guests to the April 29 wedding and those who simply want to express their goodwill can pay int...

Prince William to tour N.Z., Australia disaster zones

2011-03-09T03:30:24Z

Prince William will take time out from planning his wedding to visit disaster-stricken New Zealand and Australia next week, travelling without bride-to-be Kate Middleton, officials said Wednesday.

Earthquake-devastated William will take time out from wedding planning to visit disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia later this month, royal officials have said.

St James's Palace said Prince William would visit earthquake-devastated New Zealand on March 17 and 18, then travel to cyclone- and flood-hit...

Royal wedding sick bags making a splash

2011-03-01T08:30:53Z

If you're finding the royal wedding too much to stomach and are fed up of Wills and Kate being rammed down your throat, then a souvenir sick bag could be just to your taste.

Graphic artist Lydia Leith has produced the special item to help those who risk being nauseated by all the pomp and ceremony when second-in-line to the throne Prince William marries Kate Middleton at

Princes and Middleton in N. Zealand quake tribute

2011-02-25T15:30:34Z

Prince William, his fiancee Kate Middleton and his younger brother Prince Harry on Friday signed a book of condolence in London for the victims of New Zealand's earthquake.

They paid their respects at the Australia's largest river on Wednesday, threatening more homes, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard called on Queen Elizabeth II to establish a new medal for disaster heroes.

The wall of water engulfing southeastern Victoria state swelled the Murray, a mighty river running 2,375 kilometres (1...

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Engagement

2010-11-29T14:53:14Z

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Queen joins Facebook generation

2010-11-08T01:15:49Z

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How to Choose Sapphire Jewelry

2010-11-30T12:48:03Z

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New Zealand (Aotearoa)

2010-11-03T01:08:32Z

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Legal move to block Tonga king's property sale

2010-10-12T23:30:12Z

A New Zealand lawyer has launched a legal bid to prevent Tonga's king from selling a sprawling royal residence in Auckland, arguing it rightfully belongs to the people of the Pacific nation.

Real estate agents in New Zealand's largest city listed the 1.6 hectare (four acre) estate "Atalanga" in the upmarket suburb ...

2010 Commonwealth Games Teams and Schedule

2010-11-02T20:52:19Z

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Australian support for republic flags: poll

2010-08-29T00:15:22Z

Support for Australia becoming a republic has slumped to a 16-year-low, according to the results of a poll released Sunday which found that one-in-three people never want to break ties with Britain.

Asked whether Australia should become a republic, 48 percent of the 1,400 polled said they wanted to keep things as they are for now -- with Britain's Tonga has been put on the market in a receivership sale.

Although the king -- George Tupou V -- has issued a proclamation that Nukunamo Island cannot be mortgaged or used as security "for any purpose whatsoever", the receivers believe they can sell the 99-year lease.

The lease on the island was held by a first cous...

Australian PM backs republic after queen's death

2010-08-17T02:15:58Z

Australia should become a republic when Queen Elizabeth II dies or abdicates, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Tuesday, unexpectedly reviving an emotional debate just days ahead of national polls.

Gillard, whose centre-left Labor Party is i...

My Queen and I

2010-09-10T12:14:47Z

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The heavy duties of monarchy

2010-11-02T15:09:29Z

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Australian documentary on Thai royals sparks outrage

2010-04-16T21:15:13Z

Thailand has protested to the Australian government over the airing of a documentary critical of the Thai royal family and warned that the broadcast could affect ties between the nations.

A senior representative from the Thai embassy met with officials from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs on Thu...

Prince William salutes 'courageous' Australia fire survivors

2010-04-16T07:27:46Z

Britain's Prince William Thursday paid tribute to the courageous survivors of horrific firestorms that killed 173 people last year as embodying the "spirit of Australia".

William, 27, used his only official speech Down Under to salute the thousands who survived February's "Black Saturday" wildfires, after an emotional day touring the fire-wasted region.

Prince William visits fire-hit Australian towns

2010-04-16T07:27:46Z

Britain's Prince William reflected Thursday on the "terrifying" force of the wildfires that devastated southeastern Australia last year during a tour of towns hit by the blazes.

William, 27, flew to the southern city of Melbourne where he spoke to people about last February's so-called Black Saturday fires...

Prince William meets Australia fire victims

2010-04-16T07:28:23Z

Prince William on Thursday met survivors of horrific firestorms that killed 173 people in rural Australia last year, during an emotional tour of flattened towns.

William, 27, took a particular interest in February's so-called Black Saturday wildfires and had requested that a tour of the worst-hit areas and meeting survivors form a key part of his visit Dow...

Prince William meets Australian wildfire survivors

2010-04-16T07:30:36Z

Prince William meets survivors of deadly Australia wildfires on final day of unofficial visit

A somber Prince William met Thursday with emotional survivors of last year's deadly wildfires in southern Australia, doling out comforting words and occasional kisses to those who turned up to greet him.

The 27-year-old prince's trip to Vic...

Prince William eyes Sydney real estate

2010-06-16T11:25:40Z

Britain's visiting Prince William said Wednesday he was so thrilled by his warm welcome to Sydney that he'd like to buy a house in the Australian harbourside city.

William, 27, told guests at a traditional Australian waterfront barbecue in his honour that he had enjoyed "the most...

Prince William says he gets a bad rap for music

2010-04-16T07:30:45Z

Britain's Prince William took a self-deprecating dig at his musical tastes during a visit to a youth rehab centre in Australia Wednesday, saying it often made him the butt of jokes.

The 27-year-old prince made the remarks following a rap jam session at the centre in eastern Sydney, which h...

Tribal welcome as Prince William goes Down Under

2010-04-16T07:32:08Z

Britain's Prince William was on Tuesday welcomed to Australia by an Aboriginal elder daubed in body paint and bearing smouldering gum leaves, on his first visit since he came here as a baby 27 years ago.

Up to 2,000 cheering fans in a poor inner-city Aboriginal neighbourhood in Sydney gree...

Prince William given Aboriginal welcome to Australia

2010-04-16T07:32:20Z

Britain's Prince William was Tuesday welcomed to Australia by an Aboriginal elder daubed in body paint and bearing smouldering gum leaves, on his first visit since he came here as a baby 27 years ago.

Up to 2,000 cheering fans in a poor inner-city Aboriginal neighbourhood in Sydney greeted...

Prince William aims to maintain Queen's standards on tour

2010-04-16T07:34:52Z

Prince William arrived in Auckland on Sunday on his first official overseas trip on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, saying he was eager to maintain her high standards.

But the 27-year-old, who is second in line to the throne, told reporters at the start of the five-day tour of New Zealand and

Prince William proves star power in New Zealand

2010-04-16T07:33:30Z

Prince William proved his star power Monday as thousands of New Zealanders cheered the second-in-line to the throne in the face of a small republican demonstration.

The 27-year-old prince opened a new Supreme Court Building in Wellington during the second day of his first official trip overseas on behalf of his grandmother,

Prince William attracts crowd in New Zealand

2010-04-16T07:33:59Z

Prince William attracts New Zealand crowd as he opens building

Prince William showed that Britain's monarchy still has pulling power in New Zealand when he was greeted by crowds eight-deep Monday as he arrived to open the country's new Supreme Court building in the capital, W...

Prince William in Australia for second-ever visit

2010-04-16T07:32:32Z

Prince William on Tuesday began his first visit as an adult to Australia, kicking off a tour that will take in a poor inner-city Aboriginal community and towns devastated by deadly wildfires.

The prince last visited the country as a nine-month-old baby with his parents Prince Charles and the late ...

Prince William in New Zealand tour

2010-04-16T07:33:36Z

Prince William proved his star power Monday as thousands of New Zealanders cheered the second-in-line to the throne in the face of a small republican demonstration.

The 27-year-old prince opened a new Supreme Court Building in Wellington during the second day of his first official trip overseas on behalf of his grandmother,

Prince William arrives in New Zealand

2010-04-16T07:35:01Z

Britain's Prince William arrived in Auckland Sunday on his first official overseas trip on behalf of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, saying he wanted to maintain her high standards on tour.

But the 27-year-old, who is second in line to the British throne, told reporters at the start of ...

Prince William arrives in New Zealand at start of tour

2010-04-16T07:35:16Z

Britain's Prince William arrived in Auckland Sunday at the start of a five day visit to New Zealand and Australia.

The prince was met at Auckland Airport by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Britain's Prince William will visit New Zealand early next year for his first official overseas trip, then travel to Australia as he steps up his royal duties, the countries' leaders said Monday.

Prince William, second in line to the British throne, will be in

Britain's Prince William to visit Australia, NZealand

2010-04-16T09:28:43Z

Britain's Prince William will embark on his first official tour of the Commonwealth in January, visiting Australia and New Zealand to "get to know" the people, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday.

Prince William, second in line to the British throne,...

Prince Philip blasts supermarkets, second-home owners

2010-04-16T10:03:52Z

Prince Philip has taken a pot shot at supermarkets and second-home owners who he says are threatening the traditional British village, in remarks published Wednesday.

In an interview with Shooting Times magazine, the notoriously straight-talking Duke of Edinburgh also blasted industrial farming meth...

Advance Australia Fair

2010-10-22T09:04:57Z

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Australia accused of trading principles for African UN support

2010-04-16T16:09:57Z

Australia's opposition accused the government Monday of being prepared to trade its principles for African support of its bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has proclaimed a mission to take a more activist "middle power" role in world af...

Thailand pardons jailed Australian writer

2010-04-16T14:12:47Z

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An Australian writer jailed for insulting the Thai royal family flew home to a tearful reunion with his family on Saturday after being pardoned by the king and freed from jail.

Feeling "bewildered, dazed and nauseous", Harry Nicolaides touched down in the city of Melbourne Saturday after spending five months in a

Ex-detective: UK Queen just dodged '70 train crash

2010-04-16T15:07:38Z

Retired Australian detective: Queen Elizabeth II narrowly escaped 1970 attempt to derail train

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II narrowly escaped disaster in 1970 when a large wooden log was placed on a railroad track in an apparent attempt to derail her train as she traveled across Australia, ...

Royal row over Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral

2010-04-16T14:42:34Z

Will the Queen's absence at Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral spark a republican revolution in New Zealand?

Sir Edmund and Queen Elizabeth II made for an odd double act. But they have always been closely linked in the public mind...

NZealand pizza chain withdraws dancing corpses ad

2010-04-16T15:00:04Z

A New Zealand pizza chain has withdrawn an advertisement showing the corpses of actor Heath Ledger, Britain's Queen Mother and Mount Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary dancing on a grave.

The anim...

Tonga crowns new king in lavish ceremony

2010-04-16T16:27:05Z

Tonga's King Siaosi Tupou V was crowned as monarch of his tiny South Pacific nation Friday in a lavish ceremony which attracted royalty from around the world and regional leaders.

The 60-year-old sovereign of Polynesia's last monarchy, known as George Tupou V in English, was crowned on a 2.5 metre (nine feet) hi...

Tongan king crowned in elaborate ceremony

2010-06-12T14:23:41Z

Tongan king crowned in lavish ceremony as nation celebrates

George Tupou V was crowned as the 23rd King of Tonga on Friday in an elaborate ceremony that many expect will usher in a new, more democratic era for the South Pacific nation.

The Christian ceremony was the culmination of almost a week of festivities that included roast ...

Tongan king pledges to hand power to the people

2010-04-16T16:29:00Z

Tonga's king, who presides over one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, has confirmed he is ready to start handing power over to the people, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Tongan King Siaosi Tupou V, whose official coronation takes place on Friday, "is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people," said a statement fr...

Pictured: Fire up the barbecue ... The feast fit for a king as the 'last' monarch of Tonga is crowned

2010-10-21T10:19:45Z

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Tonga's king given pigs, food in traditional ceremony

2010-04-16T16:30:04Z

Tonga's king was presented with dozens of pigs, hundreds of food baskets and other gifts during a traditional ceremony Wednesday to recognise his annointing as head of the tiny South Pacific nation.

The event in the capital for King Siaosi Tupou V was held nearly two years after the death of his father, the form...

Tonga's king given pigs, food in traditional coronation

2010-06-12T00:05:12Z

Tonga's king was officially anointed in a traditional ceremony here Wednesday in which his subjects presented dozens of pigs and hundreds of baskets of food in tribute.

King Siaosi Tupou V sat alone on a raised platform as more than 200 of Tonga's nobles and chiefs surrounded him in a circle, dressed in white with woven ta'ovala mats around their waists.

They too...

Queen Mother's cost-conscious letter to her dressmaker

2010-10-16T19:40:43Z

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Samoan king dies at 94; ruled since 1963

2010-09-09T02:08:30Z

Samoa's King Malietoa Tanumafili II, 1 of World's Longest Reigning Monarchs, Dies at 94

King Malietoa Tanumafili II, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs, has died, the prime minister's office said Saturday. He was 94.

Malietoa died Friday night at Rockhampton, Australia. Floods that have cut air, rail and road links to an Australian coastal city are now threatening its sewage plant, and waters are still expected to rise another few feet before peaking Wednesday. (AP Photo/Janie Barrett, Pool)

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Australia Tennis Hopman Cup

2011-01-04T06:30:53Z

Serbian Novak Djokovic plays a backhand during his match against Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev on day two of the Hopman Cup team tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Steve Wake)

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Hopman Cup

2011-01-03T11:30:50Z

FILE - In a Jan. 5, 2010 file photo, John Isner of the United States plays against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt during their men's singles match at the Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia. Isner defeated Dr. Dennis Dutton poses at a computer in his office at the University of Canterbury. Author, academic and founder of the popular Arts & Letters Daily website Denis Dutton died in New Zealand, Tuesday, Dec, 2010 at the age o...

New Zealand Earthquake

2010-12-26T01:30:09Z

Safety fences are erected around fallen bricks lay on Madras Street in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 following a series of aftershocks. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Simon Baker) NEW ZEALAND OUT,

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