The former leader recalled how he and his wife Jenny rushed to prepare for the occasion at Buckingham Palace in 2019. “Jenny YouTubed how to swing in the car,” he said. Bank holiday approved for Queen’s funeral – latest updates Mr Morrison was also anxious to get the right gift. He called his mentor and fellow former prime minister John Howard for advice, who told him: “You can’t go wrong with anything to do with horses. Go study your horses.” In the end, he decided to get her a book about Winx, a champion Australian racehorse. The Queen, he said, “pulls it right out of the bag, flips through it like a schoolgirl, lit up like you wouldn’t believe it.” It was a moment of relief and calm for everyone. Queen Elizabeth II “made us home in an instant.” In 1954, she became the first reigning monarch to set foot on Australian soil. Mr Morrison says it was the start of a special bond with Australia and its people. “He loved this country,” she said. “He was here 16 times. You don’t do that if you don’t like the place, and he came back again and again and again.” Image: Australians have left floral tributes outside Government House in Sydney He said the Queen understood the country and what life was like on earth. “I think he admired the resilience of Australians who work and live off the land here,” he said. “I think she had a lot of respect for them and I think they were very encouraged by her. “They had a special bond with her as Australians – even more so than anyone else here in the country.” Australia’s relationship with the royal family has not been straightforward, but its respect for the Queen has proved enduring. In 1999 a referendum was held on whether the country should officially become a democracy. Read more: Charles III proclaimed King How the Queen became part of fashion Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:15 Global tributes to the Queen Of course, she didn’t – and it’s notable that Malcolm Turnbull, who led the campaign to make the country a democracy, paid her some of the most moving tributes in recent days. She appeared to be in tears as she said: “He’s one of my favorite people.” In Sydney, outside Government House, the seat of the governor of New South Wales, many ordinary Australians came to lay flowers and pay their respects. Along with the eulogies were messages of support for King Charles and the momentous days ahead. Wherever this country goes in the coming years, it is recognized across the political spectrum that this is a time of mourning and gratitude for a lifetime of service.
