Thank you very much Stephen. Thank you to you, as High Commissioner, and to Jane and to all the staff at the High Commission, who have worked really hard so that we can just turn up and do what we need to do without any concerns about about Australia's position.
I've got to say that whenever I travel overseas, you just see Australia punching above their weight in foreign affairs.
And can I can also acknowledge this bloke here, he is an absolute legend. And the other VC winners, of course, who who are here with us.
This is an extraordinary gathering of people. When I went through the CVs, some of you I chose, some of you were people who weren't as familiar to me as others.
But what we wanted to get was a group of people who said Australia, with all that strength, with all that diversity. The Palace, when I met with His Excellency, said that they wanted Indigenous representation, we also wanted to get a balance of gender, balance of different backgrounds that reflected modern Australia in 2023.
And what we have here is people from the arts and culture, from sport, from Defence, from academia, from health, from across so many areas, and what a what a remarkable group of people.
You are representing Australia at what is an incredible event of historic significance. For almost all of us here, this is the first time in our lifetime that we have seen a Coronation occur, that we have seen a change in Australia's head of state.
And a couple of days ago, I got to meet King Charles to have an audience with him. And then just this afternoon, I was with the Prince of Wales again.
And I think regardless of what Australians think of constitutional arrangements, and we'll have different views on that, as a nation, what we need to do is to celebrate who we are, and to respect our institutions. And there's such enormous respect for the royal family.
I think that was raised up to a different level when we farewelled Her Majesty last year. Her Majesty was a constant, reassuring presence in our lives, and in our experience. And when she passed away, there was a great deal of mourning for someone who we had affection for, but also incredible respect.
Some of us have chosen public life as something I think it's a very honourable profession. But for the royal family, they're born into it. And they serve as their duty, but also due to their commitment to their nation, but also to the Commonwealth, of which Australia is an important part.
Over the next couple of days, culminating in the Coronation, there'll be of course receptions and various events held tomorrow as well. It is a chance for us to acknowledge the significance of this historic event. But also it's about the future and going forward.
One of the things that I certainly admire about King Charles and the Prince of Wales who is continuing that tradition, is their concern about the future.
Their concern and outspoken views about climate change, about the need to protect our planet, about the urban environment, about a whole range of issues, including respect for Indigenous Australians, which is why the Palace's request which was well received by a government such as mine, was so heartwarming.
King Charles has a great affection for Australia. He was a student there there in Victoria. And that affection has continued and been passed down.
When I spoke with the Prince of Wales today I reiterated the invitation to him, as I have for King Charles, that the Royal Family would all be very well in our nation at a time of their choosing.
This is arising out of sadness for the passing of of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, this is a time for commemoration for the coronation on Saturday. The whole world will be focused on London and thank you for participating in it.
Many of you are based here in the United Kingdom. But for those of us who travelled, it is a long way. I pointed out, as I do to our friends in this part of the world, that going that way, down south to to Australia is downhill. And it is actually quicker. It is actually quicker because of the rotation in the world.
So I'm very hopeful that they will grace us with with their presence soon. But thank you for gracing us, on behalf of the Government, with your presence.
Because this isn't about the Government. This is about you, and you are representative of the Australian people over the next couple of days.
You're very welcome. And I'm very honoured to be a part of this. And that is lifted up more by the extraordinary quality of the people in this room, who have made a great contribution to making Australia a better place and many of you have made a great contribution to make the world a better place as well by your presence here in the United Kingdom. So welcome.