Family member

Elizabeth II, 1926-2022

Royal mail landing in the Latrobe Valley

By LIAM DURKIN

IT was estimated The Queen received 300 letters a day. Of the no doubt millions of letters Her Majesty received in her lifetime, one was sent from the Latrobe Valley. Traralgon teenager Sophie Goodwin received a great thrill in May 2021, with a letter from Windsor Castle landing in her mailbox. The youngster had written to The Queen in November 2020, wishing her and the Royal Family a merry Christmas. Sophie said it was something of a shock to receive a reply relatively quickly. “I was actually quite surprised, especially with COVID and everything,” she said. “I’ve always liked The Queen and like the history of the Royal Family. “Just being able to write a letter to her, even if I don’t get a reply, I like being able to talk to her.” It was the second letter Sophie had sent Windsor Castle, and the Royal Family has replied on both occasions. The Queen was receptive of Sophie’s well wishes, and her reply was signed by Lady-inWaiting Jennifer Gordon Lennox. As well as letters, Sophie also has a number of Royal Crown coins left to her by her grandfather. Letters to The Queen had to be addressed: Her Majesty The Queen, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA. The Queen was shown almost all of her correspondence on a daily basis by one of her private secretaries. Traditionally, those wishing to write a formal letter opened with ‘Madam’ and closed the letter with the form ‘I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant’. As a constitutional Monarch, The Queen did not intervene in any political or personal disputes, and letters asking her to do so received a standard reply to this effect.

When The Queen visited little old Traralgon

From the Archives

Traralgon JOURNAL,WEDNESDAY, March 3 1954.

TODAY Traralgon is wrapped in a mantle of gladness. There is spontaneity of excitement such as this old Gippstown town has never known since its birth. Thousands, many thousands, have welcomed gracious Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, to their own threshold. They have received the winning smile and handwave of Her Majesty; they have cheered her way; they have thrilled at remembering they are her children of the Great Commonwealth of Nations over which she reigns. IT has been a wonderful welcome to the Queen and Duke. It has been a welcome right from the hearts of everyone. In the early morning people began taking up their vantage points; gathering at strong posts, and preparing for the greatest moments of their lives. Tense were the minutes, and hardy suppressed the excitement as the hour of Her Majesty’s arrival drew near. There were old folk and the infirm waiting on the rise above the western subway; there were almost countless children turning back towards the railway station; there we ex-Servicemen not far removed from the exit gate through which our lovely Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were soon to come. The great concourse at this point included a large congregation of those who had spared no effort to make the town worthy of the occasion. Hard by the gate was the Press and Radio - those men who have told the world of glad tidings of the Royal Progress - the Royal Progress which this day has brought them to us. In front were Scouts and Guides with colours flying. And there, places strategically so as to greet the Royal Couple and bid them official welcome, were the chief dignitaries of five shires. These citizens represented the Shires of Traralgon, Morwell, Rosedale, Mirboo and Woorayl, and many thousands of loyal Australian subjects of the Crown. This was the picture of the whole mile and a quarter the Royal Visitors were to travel through the Traralgon streets. On the north side of the subway at the junction with the Princess Highway, a mighty throng of Traralgon people manned a strongpost reaching to Church Street. At this point sister town of Morwell folk in thousands lined the way of the Royal Procession. Their area extended to Seymour Street, and half the distance to Franklin Street drive, Rosedale occupying the remainder of this section of the Royal way. Franklin Street became another strong post for Traralgon. People of the Shires of Mirboo and Wooryal flanked the Princes Street route. As they waited, above them waved and swayed the vast cloud of brilliant decoration. Street upon street was flagged and emblazoned with motifs of the Crown and Empire. A loud speaker system kept the great concourse informed; the people knew the scene behind the scene even though the could not see. Bands News of the day: How the Queen’s visit to Traralgon was covered. serenaded the waiting crowd and eased the tension of expectancy. The the announcement of the coming of the Royal Train; the long-awaited arrival of The Queen and Duke. The pent-up emotions of the mighty crowd burst forth - Their Queen, Elizabeth, and the Duke of Edinburgh had arrived. Ascend: Charles, Prince of Wales is now King Charles III. photograph supplied What happens now?

By LIAM DURKIN NEW KING

THE Queen’s eldest son, Prince Charles, ascends the throne. He will be known as King Charles III. His coronation is likely to take place a year after The Queen’s funeral. This will be a public holiday in the UK King Charles’ wife Camilla, will be known as Queen consort.An agreement was made at their wedding in 2005 that Camilla would not carry the title of Queen, but Princess consort instead. However, earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth II said she wanted Camilla to be known as Queen consort once Charles became King. As King, Charles could have his wife named Queen if he wished. Next in line to the throne after Charles is his eldest son, William, the Duke of Cambridge. The British national anthem will be changed to God Save the King.

KING’S BIRTHDAY

DESPITE a new King, the date of the Queen’s Birthday public holiday is likely to remain the same. In Australia, the Queen’s Birthday public holiday is celebrated on different dates, depending on state or territory. Victoria breaks for the Queen’s Birthday on the second Monday of June. In Queensland however, it is celebrated on the first Monday in October. None of the dates for the Queen’s Birthday across Australia fell on her actual birthday, which was April 21. King Charles III has his actual birthday on November 14.

CURRENCY

WE will be getting new coins and a new $5 note. Australian $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c coins bearing King Charles III will soon be in circulation. Apart from the physical change on the new face, you may notice something else when you get your hands on the coins - King Charles will be facing left. This is in line with a tradition dating back to the 1600s, where each new king or queen must alternate the direction they are looking on the coin. The Reserve Bank of Australia says it is tradition for the monarch to appear on the lowest denomination of Australian banknotes. All Australian banknotes issued from 1913 retain their legal tender status.