No royal visited Australia more than Prince Philip – who made the long trip an extraordinary 35 times over 71 years.
Philip made the 15,000km journey twice as many times as the Queen, with royal watchers even speculating he enjoyed a freedom in Australia that he could not have back home.
The Prince was much loved Down Under due to his reputation as a larrikin and famously politically incorrect sense of humour.
Here’s a list of highlights showcasing the Duke of Edinburgh‘s many visits to Australia.
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The Royal who loved it in Australia: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive at Parliament House in Hobart, Tasmania, during their tour Down Under in 1954
A royal reception: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip taking leave of officials on the quayside at Fremantle during their Australian Tour
The 1940s
Before he married Queen Elizabeth in November 1947 – having known her since 1934 – he served with distinction in the British Royal Navy, including the Pacific campaign.
He visited Australia twice while as an officer in the navy, once in 1940 and again in 1945.
The 1950s
The recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II first visited Australia in 1954, accompanied by her husband of five years, Prince Philip.
In one famous incident the young couple argued within sight of reporters, who saw her throw a shoe and a tennis racket at him. ‘It happens in every marriage,’ she told stunned onlookers.
In those days the touring press corps were deferential to the royals and it wasn’t reported until 2011.
The couple’s first trip was their most extraordinary – covering 16,000 kilometres and including 33 flights. They greeted 70,000 ex-servicemen and women at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and opened parliament. It was claimed three out of every four Australians saw the couple on their tour of 70 towns in 58 days.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are shown around the State Library of Victoria and various museums in Melbourne by Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Dr Louis Matheson on April 8, 1970
With her beloved husband by her side, Queen Elizabeth II presents the Silver Salver to Australian tennis champion Lewis Hoad at Centre Court, Kooyong, during her trip to Australia in 1954
The trip cemented a lifelong love for Australia.
In 1956 Philip returned, sailing on the Royal Yacht Britannia, to open the Olympic Games in front of 100,000 fans in the MCG.
He stayed for a month, buying 16 paintings by Aboriginal artists on the trip.
It was on this trip that royal watchers noted Philip, who was then 35, was seen to be attractive to local women.
There were even rumours of an affair and author Kitty Kelley noted in the 1997 book, The Royals, that on that trip Philip was ‘extraordinarily handsome’.
In 1959 his Duke of Edinburgh Awards were taken up here. Since then a remarkable 775,000 Australian have completed the award and 45,000 still do it each year.
Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during an official visit to Australia in October 1981
The 1960s
Six years after opening the Olympics, he did the same for the 1962 Empire Games in Perth and a year later returned with the Queen to lead Canberra’s 50th celebrations, visiting all states and territories.
In 1965 Philip opened the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra and came back in 1967 and 1968 for the Commonwealth Study Conference – which he founded in 1955.
In 1968 Philip pitched in to help Tasmanian volunteer firefighters battle a local fire.
In all, Philip visited Australia five times in the 1960s.
The 1970s
Philip was an even more frequent visitor in 1970s – visiting nine times – including five times on his own.
The Queen and Philip brought young Charles and Anne to Australia in 1970 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of James Cook’s navigation of the east coast.
Again, it was an extensive tour and drew huge crowds and it was here that the couple first did a ‘royal walkabout’ – beginning the practice of mixing with local crowds, which is continued by royals today.
After a trip here in 1973, Philip surprised some by expressing what he believed was a lack of commitment to conservation by the Tasmanian Government.
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
The 1980s
The Queen and Philip again made an extended tour of Australia for the 1988 Bicentenary celebrations.
At the time he was was appointed a Companion in the Military Division of the Order of Australia for ‘service to the Australian Defence Force as Admiral of the Fleet of the Australian Navy, Field Marshal in the Australian Army and Marshal of the Royal Australian Defence Force’.
Philip came here 10 times in the 1980s, five times with the Queen and five times on his own.
The Queen on Friday announced with ‘deep sorrow’ the death of her husband Prince Philip – who spent his final days at Windsor Castle after a 28-night stay in hospital
1990s
By now in his 70s, Philip only visited Australia three times in the 1990s.
2000s
In 2002, Ivan Brim, founder of the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Cairns, noted the gaffe-prone Philip was ‘a bit of a larrikin’, after asking if the locals still throw spears.
Mr Brim claimed he wasn’t offended and said ‘he seemed like a guy that would get on with anybody.’
The Duke of Edinburgh, patron of the Britain-Australia Society, presents Kylie Minogue with the Britain-Australia Society Award for 2016 during a private audience with the singer in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in April 2017
The Union Flag was lowered to half mast at Buckingham Palace this afternoon just after it was revealed that Prince Philip has passed away shortly before his 100th birthday
Philip and Elizabeth have visited four times since the turn of millennium, with he busiest trip being in 2006.
They attended the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, opened a new section of the Sydney Opera House, met the Prime Minister John Howard, the Governor General, leader of the opposition and firefighters.
They spent the Queen’s 80th birthday here.
Philip and Elizabeth’s final visit was in 2011 – when they came for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Perth.
Although they were 90 and 85 respectively, they visited four cities in 11 days.
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