Didn't anyone tell her? The Queen's warm welcome for Malcolm Turnbull - despite the Australian Prime Minister being a staunch republican

  • Staunch republican Malcolm Turnbull met with the Queen at Buckingham Palace
  • Despite co-founding the Republican Movement, he commended the Queen
  • 'Even republicans like myself can be, and in my case are, strong Elizabethans'
  • The Queen wore a diamond-encrusted wattle brooch while receiving Mr Turnbull
  • The meeting was the final official event for Mr Turnbull before returning home 

Staunch republican Malcolm Turnbull met with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday before flying back home to Australia.  

The meeting was the final official event for Mr Turnbull after a trip to Germany for the G20 summit, France and England. 

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Mr Turnbull, who co-founded the Australian Republican Movement, said politics was 'full of unpredictable events'.

'Even republicans like myself can be, and in my case are, very strong Elizabethans,' he said.

Staunch republican Malcolm Turnbull met with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday before flying back home to Australia

Staunch republican Malcolm Turnbull met with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday before flying back home to Australia

The prime minister paid tribute to the 91-year-old monarch as having embodied 'selfless public service, dignity, wisdom and leadership for longer and more magnificently than anyone alive today'.

The Queen wore a diamond-encrusted wattle brooch while receiving Mr Turnbull on Tuesday.

Her Majesty has worn the yellow and blue diamond item many times, which was given to her early in her reign during the 1954 Commonwealth tour.

The monarch has been invited to open the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018.

'Even republicans like myself can be, and in my case are, very strong Elizabethans,' Mr Turnbull said before meeting with the Queen on Tuesday 

'Even republicans like myself can be, and in my case are, very strong Elizabethans,' Mr Turnbull said before meeting with the Queen on Tuesday 

 The Queen wore a diamond-encrusted wattle brooch while receiving Mr Turnbull on Tuesday

 The Queen wore a diamond-encrusted wattle brooch while receiving Mr Turnbull on Tuesday

'Although I am a republican, I am also an Elizabethan. It was an honour to meet Her Majesty today at Buckingham Palace,' Mr Turnbull posted to Twitter 

'Although I am a republican, I am also an Elizabethan. It was an honour to meet Her Majesty today at Buckingham Palace,' Mr Turnbull posted to Twitter 

Asked whether he expected confirmation of which royal might attend, Mr Turnbull said: 'I may be better informed this afternoon.'

Mr Turnbull has publicly advocated for a republic, but believes such a change would not be supported by Australians during the Queen's reign.

ARM is pressing for a national vote in 2020 on whether people want an Australian head of state and how one should be chosen.

This would be followed by a full referendum in 2022 to change the constitution.

Queen Elizabeth II meets the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnball during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London

Queen Elizabeth II meets the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnball during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London

Queen Elizabeth II talks to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (right) during a Heads of Government reception at the San Anton Palace on November 27, 2015

Queen Elizabeth II talks to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (right) during a Heads of Government reception at the San Anton Palace on November 27, 2015

Mr Turnbull said in a speech in December his preferred model was an advisory plebiscite offering a choice between two republican models - most likely direct election and parliamentary appointment.

Once the model is chosen at the plebiscite, the parliament would formulate the terms of the amendment in line with the people's choice and present it at a referendum.

ARM called on the the prime minister to make clear to the Queen Australia would still be a commonwealth country if Australians vote to become a republic.

Labor, meanwhile, wants Mr Turnbull to ask the Queen how she might help Australia transition to a republic.

'But I've got no real hope that he's going to do that,' frontbencher Mark Dreyfus told ABC radio.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from wellwishers outside St Andrew's Cathedral on March 13, 2006 in Sydney

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from wellwishers outside St Andrew's Cathedral on March 13, 2006 in Sydney

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at the Sydney Opera House on March 13, 2006 in Sydney

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, arrive at the Sydney Opera House on March 13, 2006 in Sydney

Mr Turnbull had breakfast with UK corporate chiefs where they discussed greater investment in Australia.

He then met with university representatives to discuss ways to link researchers with industry and address fears that Brexit could have an impact on innovative business.

Mr Turnbull said 'a lot of people' were downcast about the Brexit decision and thought it was a mistake.

'But British people should see this from an optimistic point of view. They should be able to say, 'We've made that decision, we are part of a global economy and we should embrace it' - and Australia will be part of it.'

Queen Elizabeth II pictured at The Admiralty House in Sydney with former prime minister John Howard 

Queen Elizabeth II pictured at The Admiralty House in Sydney with former prime minister John Howard 

 

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