In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, the Queen's Birthday falls on the second Monday in June. In Queensland, it's the first Monday in October.
The Queen celebrates her birthday differently in Australia, which falls on the second Monday of June - after the Queen's official birthday in the UK. The reason for this is that Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with the English monarch as head of state.
The Queen's Birthday holiday was a moveable feast celebrating the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II who was not only Queen of Great Britain but also Queen of Australia, New Zealand and 13 of the 50 other countries in the Commonwealth. The holiday traditionally marks the start of the Australian ski season.
Queen's Birthday public holiday renamed in NSW
The NSW Government has renamed the Queen's Birthday to the King's Birthday - which will remain on the second… Monday of June. The change has been amended in the Public Holidays Act 2010.
Why does the monarch have two birthdays? Simply put, the monarch traditionally has two birthdays due to British weather. As the monarch's birthday is typically celebrated with outdoor events, such as Trooping the Colour, it makes more sense to celebrate in the summer, when there's a greater chance of nice weather.
The Queen celebrated her official birthday from the day she unexpectedly ascended the throne in 1952. Originally, it was marked on the second Thursday of June, following in the footsteps of her father, King George VI. The date was changed to the second Saturday in June in 1959.
The date of the celebration today varies as adopted by each country and is generally set around the end of May or start of June, to coincide with a higher probability of fine weather in the Northern Hemisphere for outdoor ceremonies.
On Monday 12 June, Australians in the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, SA and the Northern Territory will take a day off to mark the birthday of the King of Australia, despite his birthday being in November and that the King isn't an Australian, doesn't live in Australia and wasn't chosen by Australians.
Some regional areas in Western Australia hold the King's Birthday (formerly known as the Queen's Birthday) public holiday on an alternative date, usually to coincide with a significant date or event for that area.
The public holiday will be a one-off for 2022 to allow Australians to pay their respects. "I have asked Premiers and Chief Ministers that Thursday 22 September 2022 be declared a National Public Holiday in honour of the life and service of our late Queen," Albanese said.
Currently Australia, New Zealand, Gibraltar, The Falklands, Saint Helena as well as other commonwealth members celebrate the Queen and the monarchy around the time of her official birthday in June. Previously Fiji, Bermuda, Canada and Hong Kong have all had public holidays to celebrate the current King or Queen.
May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845. After Confederation, Queen Victoria's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued providing for the celebration on May 25.
Like many British monarchs before her, the Queen likes to commemorate the occasion on two separate days—once on the actual anniversary of the day she was born (April 21) and again on a Saturday in June (dubbed the “official celebration”).
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 2 birthdays each year because British weather is so unpredictable. Queen Elizabeth II's birthday was on April 21, but she also had an official birthday that is celebrated in June. Sovereigns whose real birthdays fall in colder months have often celebrated later in hopes of better weather.
The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on (usually) the second Saturday in June.
In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, the Queen's Birthday falls on the second Monday in June. In Queensland, it's the first Monday in October.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy
When these colonies joined together to form modern Australia, a constitutional monarchy system of government was chosen for the country. This means Australia's head of state is the British monarch which, up until 8 September 2022, was Queen Elizabeth II.
Most Australian states (SA, NSW, VIC, TAS, NT) celebrate the King's Birthday on the second Monday in June, in line with the British celebrations. This means that the King's Birthday 2023 will fall on the 12th June.
Queensland Day is celebrated on 6 June each year, but not with a public holiday. Western Australia Day in Western Australia on the first Monday in June. Tasmania has Easter Tuesday as a bank holiday (for bank and government employees only).
Nepal has the highest number of public holidays in the world with 35 annually.
There are seven national public holidays in Australia and additional state and territory public holidays. Holidays that fall on weekends are generally observed on the Monday after.
The Prince of Wales, whose full name William Arthur Philip Louis, was born on June 21, 1982—making him a Cancer, if you were wondering.
But why do British monarchs have two birthdays? It is for one simple reason- to line up with the Trooping the Colour parade. If a monarch doesn't have a summer birthday, then they will have a second one in June. This tradition was first introduced in 1700's with King George II and will continue with King Charles.
Like his mother Queen Elizabeth and many British monarchs before him, King Charles celebrates two birthdays annually. On November 14 each year, King Charles marks his birthday privately, but every year on one weekend in June, he will mark his "official" birthday with a procession known as Trooping the Colour.
If a person is born on February 29th (leap year) he or she could only celebrate his or her true birthdate once every four years. On the other years the celebration would have to be on March 1st. Making it possible for this person to have two birthdates.