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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, had a deep relationship with Australia, visiting the country 23 times—more than any other member of the British royal family. He first visited Australia in 1954 with Queen Elizabeth II, the first-ever visit to the country by a reigning monarch. The tour covered 58 days, 57 cities and towns across all States and the ACT, and was met by an estimated 75% of Australians. The royal couple returned in 1963 for a less formal tour, and again in 1970, 1988, and 2011. Prince Philip also served in the British forces during World War II, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of visits to Australia | 23 |
| First official visit to Australia | 1954 |
| Longest royal tour | 58 days |
| Number of cities and towns visited | 57 |
| Percentage of Australians who turned out to see the royal couple | 75% |
| Comments about Australia | "I've seen so many Australian mouths, I know all about Australian teeth" "Do you still throw spears at each other?" "I love Australian girls for their freshness and their unaffected manners" |
| Organisations he was a patron of | Duke of Edinburgh's Award program for young people |
| Other notable visits | Opening of the Royal Australian Mint in 1965 |
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What You'll Learn
Prince Philip's visits to Australia
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Australia more than 20 times, more than any other member of the British royal family. He first visited Australia in 1954, accompanying Queen Elizabeth II on her first visit as the reigning monarch. The trip lasted eight weeks, encompassing 70 cities and towns, and remains the most elaborate and well-attended event in Australian history.
The royal couple arrived in Brisbane on March 9, 1954, and their visit included a tour of South Australia. The Queen and Prince Philip toured bushfire-ravaged Tasmania, checked on the progress of the Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme, and visited Melbourne ahead of the 1956 Olympics. They also planted a tree in Macquarie Place in Sydney. The 1954 tour was the high point of Australia's adulation of the British royal family.
Prince Philip returned to Australia in 1956 to open the Olympic Games in Melbourne. He also inspected the uranium processing plant at Rum Jungle. In 1962, he attended the Commonwealth Games in Perth and completed 59 engagements in 10 days. In 1963, he returned to Australia with the Queen to lead the Canberra jubilee celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of the naming of the capital.
Prince Philip visited Australia again in 1965 to open the Royal Australian Mint. In 1967, he helped volunteer firefighters in Tasmania. He returned in 1968, described in the press as a "semi-independent statesman". During his many visits, he acquired a large private collection of Australian art, including works by Indigenous artists. He also visited Australia for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the Bicentennial in 1988.
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His relationship with the country
Prince Philip shared a deep-felt relationship with Australia, visiting the country 23 times, more than any other member of the British royal family. He first visited Australia in 1945, and his final visit was in 1988.
Prince Philip's first official visit to Australia was in 1954 with Queen Elizabeth II. This was the first time a reigning monarch had visited Australia. The tour lasted 58 days and covered 57 cities and towns across all states and the ACT. An estimated 75% of Australians turned out to see the royal couple. The tour was a great success, and the royal couple returned in 1963 for a less formal tour, this time with the primary purpose of leading the Canberra jubilee celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of the naming of the capital. The Queen and Prince Philip also made a popular visit in 1970 and again in 1988 as part of the bicentenary celebrations.
Prince Philip also had a connection to Australia through his service in the British military during World War II. He spent four months protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean. He also served in the Pacific and was present at the Battle of Cape Matapan and the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Prince Philip was the patron of hundreds of organisations, including industrial, sporting, educational, and environmental groups. Many of these organisations were active in Australia, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program for young people.
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His work in the country
Prince Philip had a major impact on Australia as a member of the British royal family. He visited Australia more than any other member of the British royal family, with 23 visits in total. One of his most notable visits was in 1954, when he and Queen Elizabeth II made the first-ever visit to Australia by a reigning monarch. The tour lasted 58 days, covered 57 cities and towns across all States and the ACT, and was met with loud and prolonged cheering from an estimated 75% of Australians.
Prince Philip was also involved in several other official engagements during his visits to Australia. In 1965, he opened the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, accompanied by the future prime minister Harold Holt. He also toured bushfire-ravaged Tasmania in 1967 and checked on the progress of the Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme. In addition, he visited Melbourne ahead of the 1956 Olympics and was greeted by surf lifesavers on Bondi Beach.
Prince Philip also had a strong commitment to the environment and was the patron of hundreds of industrial, sporting, educational, and environmental organisations. These included the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program for young people, which is active in Australia and over 100 other countries. At the time of his retirement from public life in 2017, he was still associated with 36 Australian organisations.
Prince Philip's visits to Australia also included some light-hearted moments. On one occasion, he pretended to grab an apple from an archway at the North Hobart Oval, delighting schoolchildren. He also told a dental student that he knew all about Australian teeth because he had seen so many of them in open Australian mouths.
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His comments about the country
Prince Philip visited Australia more than any other member of the British royal family. His first official visit was in 1954 with Queen Elizabeth II, the first-ever visit to Australia by a reigning monarch. The tour lasted 58 days and covered 57 cities and towns across all States and the ACT, with an estimated 75% of Australians turning out to see the royal couple. The Queen and Prince Philip returned to Australia in 1963, 1967, 1970, 1988, and 2011.
During his visits to Australia, Prince Philip made several comments about the country that gained attention. On one occasion, he asked an Indigenous Australian entrepreneur, "Do you still throw spears at each other?" This comment sparked controversy and shaped his reputation.
Prince Philip was also known for his witty remarks and playful sense of humour during his interactions with Australians. He once joked to a porter at a train station that he hadn't gotten a ticket, and playfully pretended to grab an apple from an archway at the North Hobart Oval, delighting schoolchildren. He also made light-hearted comments about Australian dental students, stating that he knew all about Australian teeth because he had seen so many of them in open Australian mouths.
In addition to his playful remarks, Prince Philip also expressed appreciation for Australian culture and people. He declared that he loved Australian girls for their "freshness and their unaffected manners." He also demonstrated his commitment to the environment during his visits to Australia, further showcasing his interest and involvement in the country.
Overall, Prince Philip's comments about Australia ranged from light-hearted jokes to more controversial statements. His interactions with Australians during his visits left a lasting impression and contributed to his reputation in the country.
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His legacy in the country
Prince Philip shared a deep-felt relationship with Australia, visiting the country more than any other member of the British royal family. He made 23 visits to the country, many involving visits to Old Parliament House in Canberra.
One of the longest and most extensive royal tours was his and the Queen's first-ever visit to Australia by a reigning monarch in 1954. The tour covered 58 days, 57 cities and towns across all States and the ACT, and an estimated 75% of Australians turned out to see the royal couple. The royal tour is still fondly remembered for its grace and scale.
Prince Philip also had a strong connection to the Australian military. During World War II, he served in the British forces, spending four months protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean. He also served shorter postings on HMS Kent, HMS Shropshire, and in British Ceylon.
Prince Philip's legacy in Australia continues through his involvement with dozens of Australian charities and organisations. He was the patron of hundreds of industrial, sporting, educational, and environmental organisations, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program for young people, active in Australia and over 100 countries. More than 775,000 Australians have participated in the award since 1959. The award is considered Prince Philip's greatest legacy and the one closest to his heart.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear whether Prince Philip liked Australia or not, but he did visit the country 23 times, more than any other member of the British royal family. He also served in the British armed forces, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean.
Prince Philip's first official visit to Australia was in 1954 with Queen Elizabeth II. This was the first time a reigning monarch had visited Australia. The tour covered 58 days, 57 cities and towns across all States and the ACT, and an estimated 75% of Australians turned out to see the royal couple. The Queen and Prince Philip returned to Australia in 1963, 1970, 1988, and many other times.
There is no evidence that Prince Philip ever lived in Australia, but he did undertake thousands of royal engagements around the world throughout his life, including in Australia.
