Australia will hold a minute’s silence to mark the Queen’s death on the National Day of Mourning public holiday
Australians will observe a minute’s silence as part of the country’s National Day of Mourning for the Queen.
The solemn moment would begin at 11am AEST on Thursday and be followed by a national service live broadcast, the Commonwealth Flag Officer said.
A national memorial service will be held at Parliament House, that all state and territory leaders will attend.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged Aussies to ‘take time to pause and reflect’, ‘wherever you may be’.
‘Her Majesty was the only reigning monarch to ever to visit Australia and it was clear from her first trip that she had a special place in our hearts,’ Mr Albanese said.
Over the coming weeks, Australia will continue to commemorate our late Queen.’
All flags flown on buildings occupied by Australian Government departments will remain at half mast for the entire day.
Vice-Regal Standards are to remain at full mast.
The memorial service will be held in Parliament House’s Great Hall, three days after her London funeral.
It will also be attended by the governor general, prime minister and other dignitaries.
Mr Albanese has also encouraged communities to hold their own memorials, especially in places where Her Majesty visited during her 16 Australian tours.
However, many have chosen to commemorate the day by booking holidays and making the most of the extra day-off.
The one-off national holiday on Thursday will give Victorians a four-day weekend thanks to the AFL Grand Final holiday on Friday.
State-run schools will be closed for the holiday but private schools can choose whether to opt-in or out of public holidays.
More to come.
Advertisement
