Australia's Federation Guard
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AFG welcomes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
On October 19th shortly after 6pm, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip touched down at Defence Establishment Fairbairn on the Queens 16th official visit to Australia. She was met by a Royal Guard and 21 Gun salute provided by Australia’s Federation Guard under the command of MAJ John Cottis.
As Her Majesty stepped off the plane she was greeted by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and the ACT’s Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. The Queen then inspected the Royal Guard before mingling with the hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered at Fairbairn. The Queen was presented Aboriginal artwork as well as a bouquet from Margaret Cunningham, who presented the first bouquet to the Queen on her very first visit to Australia in 1954 after her coronation on 2 June 1953.
All members of Australia’s Federation Guard who were on the parade felt very proud of the occasion and whether a monarchist or a republican all appreciated the magnitude of the occasion with an understanding that this will most likely be one of the Queens’s last visits to Australia.
