Australia’s formal symbol of sovereignty, its Great Seal, has been redesigned without a reference to the monarch, breaking with more than 120 years of tradition and triggering criticisms of “republicanism by stealth”.
The new version of the Great Seal of Australia – a ceremonial stamp authorised by the monarch and used on key documents exercising royal powers in Australia – was authorised via royal warrants signed by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and King Charles III during his visit to Canberra’s Government House earlier this month.