We're told that the United Kingdom is throwing a once
in a lifetime celebration for Queen Elizabeth II's
Platinum Jubilee. The 96 year old is the first
British monarch in history to reach a Platinum Jubilee
which marks 70 years on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne on February 6th 1952
following the death of her father King George VI.

Starting today (Thursday), the Platinum Jubilee will include
everything from the traditional Trooping the Colour birthday
parade to a star-studded concert (I believe to
be screened here on Sunday) to thousands of street parties
across the UK.

Just as Australians for a Republic can enjoy watching the
pomp and spectacle of Royal Weddings and Celebrations without
abandoning the idea of an Australian Head of State -
they need to remind themselves to also wish this gracious lady
well.

Here is Queen Elizabeth's official Platinum Jubilee
Portrait that's been released:

http://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-official-platinum-jubilee-portrait-released/

Beautiful!

I am also 96. I have not been as much of a drag on the public purse as the royal family. I have not subjected the public to silliness in the manner of Champagne Charlie. I have caused no scandal but have paid my taxes and expressed my opinions. I have never felt or expressed a desire to be a tampon as did Charlie. All my descendants are useful citizens earning their own way. I have never had to sit through as many boring ceremonies as the queen and other members of the royal family. Come to think of it, in some ways I am better off than she is. My time is my own.

Charlie called himself the 'defender of all faiths'. I prefer doubt and questioning to any faith. It's more conducive to learning.

May Australia and the UK become republics.

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On February 6, 1952, after a long illness, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland died in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham. Princess Elizabeth, the older of the king’s two daughters and next in line to succeed him, was in Kenya with her husband at the time of her father’s death; she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, at age 25.

I wish her gracious lady well. She has done a great job during the seventy years of her office, but I should now like her to graciously retire as Queen of Australia and allow us to proceed with the creation of an independent republic in a calm and orderly fashion and elect an Australian president as our head of state.

Naturally, she fully deserves a very handsome retirement allowance for everything she has done for us all these years and I am sure our parliament will do the right thing and express our deep and sincere gratitude in the most generous of terms befitting her majesty's exceptionally long reign.

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Thank You both, David F and Banjo Paterson, for your
comments.

The Queen and the royal family has featured in the lives
of many Australians for decades. Her picture used to hang in
every classroom. However times have changed. Politics has
changed as we saw on Saturday night. And we will be watching
all of it unfold.

The man tasked with our seeing Australia's transition to a
republic is Matt Thistlethwaite who has been sworn in as
Assistant Minister for the Republic by the Queen's
Representative in Australia, the Governor General David Hurley.

Matt Thistlethwaite is also the Minister for Defence and
Veterans' Affairs. The PM has pledged Labor will prioritize
a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and
Constitutional recognition for our First Nations people in
its first 3 years. The Head of State question will come
later.

A discussion on a republic will be the next natural step.
The next natural step around the timing of a republic will
probably take place when Her Majesty hands over the reign or
passes. As the new Minister says:

"Many in the UK would see this as the next step for Australia
on the path to maturity and independence. In my discussion
people in the UK see us as a powerhouse economy in the Asia
Pacific, diplomatically independent, with our own culture
and identity, and many of them are amazed we haven't done this
earlier."

I think that the relationship that the average Australian has
with the royal family won't change. The royals will still
visit Australia as they do other nations. They will regularly
be in our media and they will be welcome in Australia at
any stage.

The Queen as stated earlier is 96 years old and media reporting
in recent months has focused on her health.

I shall be watching the celebrations this week-end wishing
Her Majesty well. As a monarch she has done a remarkable job.
And is rightly loved by so many.

The queen is a lovely old lady. If she visited me I would serve her coffee and bagels with whatever spread she preferred.