The Governor-General has congratulated The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on Their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. His Excellency sent the following message to Her Majesty and His Royal Highness on 20 November 2007:
“On behalf of the Australian people, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness on sixty years of marriage.
Our nation has been delighted to have welcomed you to our shores on fifteen occasions and with each visit you have both won a special place in our hearts and minds with your keen interest in and affection for Australia.
In this Diamond anniversary year, it is fitting to look back over your remarkable journey together. Your mutual strength and leadership during times of extraordinary social and cultural change have been both an example and a source of stability to us all. You have also withstood public scrutiny and personal tragedy with dignity and grace.
Marlena and I, and the people of Australia, wish Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness continuing good health and happiness, and extend our sincere congratulations to you on this truly auspicious occasion.
(Michael Jeffery)”
In the meantime , Harold Schmauz of the Monarchist Alliance points out that while the German media in Australia are tiny in comparison with the Greek or the Italian newspapers and the German community in Australia is not known to be staunchly Monarchists, their weekly "Die Woche in Australien" surprised him this week (issue no. 48, 27 Nov. 2007) with a whole page on the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
“Contrary to Melbourne's daily newspaper The Age,” Mr. Schmauz says “which printed a quote of Prince Philip him comparing the French and the British breakfast as the only reference to the 60th anniversary of their wedding, "Die Woche" was serious and correct in their report and used three photos to illustrate the article. Well, done.” He suggests that those who wish to thank "Die Woche" for their report on the Queen and Prince Philip may send them an e-mail at [email protected]
In the same issue Die Woche also published a long article on the 95th Birthday of Archduke Otto von Habsburg. “A royal issue, indeed,” wrote Mr. Schmauz.