The Queen has left an intriguing secret in Sydney: a sealed letter, personally written by Her Majesty in 1986, that cannot be opened for 63 years.
The handwritten note was penned by Her Majesty more than 30 years ago, and is addressed to Mayor, for the people of Sydney. It lies in the city’s Queen Victoria Building, and its contents have never been revealed.
The Monarch wrote the historic note after the former marketplace was restored in November 1986, meaning many visitors to the building will never read it
Its contents have been kept top-secret all these years- with even her staff not knowing what it contains and is addressed to the “Right and Honourable Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia”.
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Instructions for the note say: 'Greetings. On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085 A.D. would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of SYDNEY my message to them.
The QVB building, now a shopping centre, was opened in 1898 and was named in honour of then Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
At present day, the British monarch remains Australia’s head of state, with King Charles III inheriting the role following the death of his mother.
In a 1999 referendum, Australians voted to retain the Queen - with her Majesty visiting the country 16 times during her 70 years on the throne
As a constitutional monarch, King Charles is not involved in the day-to-day government business of the Australian Government, but holds a ceremonial and symbolic role.
As the world continues to mourn the monarch, The Sydney Opera House’s sails was lit up with her image.
The facility’s chief executive Louise Herron noted that Her Majesty was present when the Opera House was opened in 1973, and said the sails would be lit on Friday and Saturday evenings to honour the “model of strength and stability”.
Ms Herron added the move was made to honour the Queen, who was shown in the post in a formal gown at The Magic Flute at the Opera House in 1973, after a “lifetime of humanity, stoicism and grace”.
There is no official period of mourning for the country, but condolence books have been made available at Parliament House and Government House in Canberra.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Hurley have confirmed they will attend the Queen’s funeral in the UK, where they will meet Charles as monarch for the first time.
When they return, a national memorial service will be held at Parliament House to mark a national day of mourning.
* This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get poth pullouts.
