Queensland has no plans to update its royal-based emblems, despite King Charles III officially changing the crown that represents his reign, and other significant institutions adopting his preferred emblem.
Several official agencies, along with the Queensland Governor, have followed the King’s lead in adopting the Tudor Crown on their emblems, replacing the Imperial State Crown preferred by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
But the Crisafulli government has ruled out following suit, insisting the state badge and, by extension, the Queensland flag would remain as is.
Crowns atop the Queensland Police Service, State Emergency Service, and Queensland Fire Department badges would also remain unchanged, with the St Edward’s Crown continuing to take pride of place.
Police in NSW, Tasmania and the ACT have adopted the Tudor Crown to reflect the King’s reign.
“We are focused on addressing Labor’s youth crime, health, housing and cost-of-living crises, and there are no immediate plans to change Queensland’s coat of arms, state badge, and state flag, described in the Emblems Act of Queensland 2005,” a Crisafulli government spokesman said.
Queensland Governor Jeannette Young has updated most of her iconography to reflect the King’s preference.
“As a direct representative of the monarch, the Governor’s Vice-Regal Crown and Brolga emblem have been updated to the Tudor Crown, consistent with King Charles III’s choice,” a spokeswoman for the Governor said.
The one exception was the Governor’s Standard – the office-holder’s official flag consisting of the Union Jack, with the Queensland state badge at the centre. The governor’s office said that would not change unless the state badge was updated.
The governors’ standards of South Australia and Western Australia have both been updated to include the Tudor Crown, while Victoria’s, NSW’s and Tasmania’s have not.
Queensland was also lagging behind the Australian Defence Force and the Returned Services League in updating its royal protocols.
Last August, the ADF updated its emblems to reflect King Charles III’s reign.
“Uniform updates will occur gradually, as stock runs out and opportunities arise, and will be aligned with the evolving design for each uniform type,” an ADF spokesperson said.
“Most units are expected to receive the updated branding within the year.”
The RSL did the same in October.
“In accordance with King Charles’ wishes to avoid unnecessary expenditure, we are using the ‘grandfathering’ principle,” RSL Australia national president Peter Tinley said.
“The existing RSL badge will remain valid, and the new badge will be introduced progressively to minimise financial and operational disruptions.
“RSL Branches are being encouraged to avoid unnecessary expenditures and employ a staged approach, with digital assets such as letterheads, websites and other electronic communications changing first, and signage, physical badges and merchandise changing gradually as part of routine replacement of assets.”
Australian Monarchist League Queensland branch secretary Alexander Voltz said “as a matter of principle” the Queensland government should update state emblems to include the Tudor Crown.
“Queenslanders, reputed nationally for their patriotism, are rightly embarrassed that a place like New South Wales has overtaken them on this issue,” he said.
