THE TELEGRAPH: A decision by Australian war veterans to dump the British national anthem from the country’s biggest remembrance services has provoked a fierce row Down Under.
Outraged monarchists claimed the Returned Services League’s decision to drop God Save the Queen from Anzac Day services in Melbourne was “creeping republicanism”.
Officials at the RSL, the biggest organisation for former servicemen in the country, said the English national anthem was “no longer relevant” despite always being included in services.
The decision will be seen as a blow to the Queen and the Royal Family, after Prince William ended his recent tour Down Under, where he launched a staunch defence of the Monarchy in a speech on Australia Day in the city.
The British national anthem has always been one of three played during Australia’s biggest remembrance services together with the Australian and New Zealand national anthems.
God Save the Queen was [first it was] Australia's [first] [sic] national anthem, but it was later replaced by Advance Australia Fair in the mid 1980s and relegated to the royal hymn.
Every year on April 25 Australia and New Zealand commemorates veterans who fought in conflicts and wars since the 1915 Gallipoli landings. >>> Andrew Hough | Thursday, April 15, 2010
