Major change coming for one of Australia’s national public holidays: Here’s what you need to know
Big change ahead for one of Australia’s national holidays: here’s what you need to know
As of this year, the Queen’s birthday holiday is known as the King’s Birthday – a label that will most likely continue for the next two generations of monarchs.
The name change follows King Charles III’s accession to the throne last September following the death of Australia’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite the King being born on November 14, 1948, most Australian states celebrate the monarch’s birthday as a public holiday on the second Monday in June, in line with British observances.
For South Australia, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, the King’s Birthday will be celebrated on June 12 this year.
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday was April 21, despite it being celebrated as a public holiday in Australia on June 12. Photo: Twitter
This year marks the first public holiday of the King’s birthday since the Queen’s death in September
In Queensland, the holiday falls on the first Monday in October, this year on October 2.
Since Western Australia observes Western Australia Day on the first Monday in June, it celebrates the King’s birthday in September in an effort to spread out the holiday season.
This year it falls on Monday, September 25.
Except for a change in law made to the states’ respective public holiday laws to change the name, nothing else about the day should be different in practice.
Most Australians only know the holiday as the Queen’s birthday, with Queen Elizabeth II reigning as monarch for 70 years, ascending the throne in 1952.
After the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth ascended the throne at just 25 years old and reigned until her death last year at the age of 96.
King Charles III’s actual birthday is on November 14
However, Charles ascended the British throne at the age of 73 – the oldest monarch ever.
The tradition of celebrating the sovereign’s birthday in June began with George II in 1748. He found November, his actual month of birth, too cold for a festive parade.
During the reign of Edward VII, also born in November, the standardization of official summer birthday celebrations was carried out.
Unlike other holidays, such as Good Friday and Boxing Day, most businesses remain open, albeit with limited hours.
Most states and territories celebrating the upcoming long weekend can expect some showers over the weekend or Monday, with the exception of Hobart and Darwin.