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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daisy Dumas

‘Republicanism by stealth’: Australia’s Great Seal redesign ditches reference to monarch

The new version of the Great Seal of Australia
The new version of the Great Seal of Australia was authorised via royal warrants signed by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and King Charles III during the monarch’s visit in October 2024. Photograph: Jack Simmons

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.

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