King’s Birthday
When Is the King’s Birthday 2023?
The King’s Birthday 2023 in Australia is celebrated on 12 June everywhere in the country besides Western Australia and Queensland.
Western Australia will celebrate it on 25 September while Queensland will celebrate it on 2 October.
The exact date of the holiday is decided each year in Western Australia by the governor, while in Queensland it takes place on the first Monday of the month.
In the rest of the country, the holiday falls on the second Monday in June.
King’s Birthday 2023
| Year | Date | Holiday | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 Jun | King’s Birthday | ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC |
| 2023 | 25 Sep | King’s Birthday | WA |
| 2023 | 2 Oct | King’s Birthday | QLD |
King’s Birthday 2024
| Year | Date | Holiday | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 Jun | King’s Birthday | ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC |
| 2024 | 23 Sep | King’s Birthday | WA |
| 2024 | 7 Oct | King’s Birthday | QLD |
King’s Birthday 2025
| Year | Date | Holiday | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 Jun | King’s Birthday | ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC |
| 2025 | 29 Sep | King’s Birthday | WA |
| 2025 | 6 Oct | King’s Birthday | QLD |
King’s Birthday 2026
| Year | Date | Holiday | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 Jun | King’s Birthday | ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS, VIC |
| 2026 | 28 Sep | King’s Birthday | WA |
| 2026 | 5 Oct | King’s Birthday | QLD |
Why do we celebrate the King’s Birthday on different days?
In Western Australia, the date was changed because having the holiday in June put it too close to Western Australia Day.
In Queensland, the holiday was moved to October in order to celebrate Labour Day in May.
The rest of the country celebrates the holiday in June, the same time as England.
History of the King’s Birthday
Celebrating the Monarch’s Birthday is a longstanding tradition in Australia.
In 1788, King George III was the Monarch and the Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, declared a holiday to mark his birthday.
Since then, every year the birthday of the reigning Monarch has been celebrated in Australia.
Today, this celebration is known as the Monarch’s Birthday Holiday and takes place on the second Monday in June.
Except for Western Australia and Queensland, which celebrate on different days for several reasons.
The day is marked with a public holiday across all states and territories, allowing Australians to take the day off work and enjoy a long weekend.
The holiday was originally known as the King’s Birthday until 1952, when Queen Elizabeth was crowned queen.
The holiday was then known as the Queen’s Birthday until her passing in 2022.
Though the holiday has been called the Queen’s Birthday for the past 70 years, with the crowning of King Charles, the holiday is again called the King’s Birthday in 2023.
Traditions
For many Australians, the Monarch’s Birthday is an opportunity to get together with family and friends and enjoy barbecues, picnics, and other activities outdoors.
On this day, Australians often fly flags, sing the national anthem, and have a moment of silence for those who have served in the armed forces.
The Monarch’s birthday is almost always celebrated on a different day than their actual birthday.
This is because several kings were born in England’s winter time, so they set an official holiday in the summer time to allow for good weather for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour.
How to Celebrate the King’s Birthday
Attend an AFL Match
Some well-known sporting events take place on the second Monday of June.
This includes an AFL game played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons.
This match is a very long standing tradition, going all the way back to 1897 when sets of football matches were formally organized on the Monarch’s Birthday.
The Melbourne and Collingwood teams have long held a rivalry over these matches and even drew crowds of nearly 100,000 people to watch it some years.
Visit the Stadium
In addition attending the AFL match, there’s another amazing way to celebrate the King’s Birthday.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a historic site, with over 100 years of AFL matches having been played there.
The stadium is open to visit 7 days per week, so fans can come and see the grounds for themselves, even if they can’t make it to a game.
It has hosted some of the most iconic moments in football history, and even today, fans can feel the history when they step onto the turf.
As the teams run onto the ground, they know that this isn’t just any match – it’s a part of history, and each player is determined to make an impact.
Watch England’s Trooping of the Colour
One interesting way Australians celebrate the King’s Birthday is to watch the Trooping of the Colour in England on TV, which is a parade consisting of over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians.
The event takes place at England’s Buckingham Palace and the parade proceeds down to the Horse Guard’s Parade.
The event also includes a flyover by the RAF and a military gun salute at Hyde Park at noon.
Australians currently in England at the time of the event can apply for tickets to see it in person through the UK Embassy’s website.
Meanwhile, those living in Australia can see the parade televised on several news channels.
Apply for Trooping of the Colour tickets Here !
Watch a Documentary
The British Royal family is one of the oldest monarchies still around and there are so many events of recorded history to learn about them.
The BBC has made several amazing documentaries over the years detailing these events and sitting down to enjoy them is a wonderful way to celebrate the King’s Birthday.
From documentaries of the Royal family through the ages, to documentaries focused solely on Queen Elizabeth, there’s plenty of subjects to capture you interest and make for a good holiday with friends and family.
Read the Honour’s List
The Honour’s List, which details the awards and honours given to Australians throughout the year, is also published on the Monarch’s Birthday.
The list is actually published twice per year, with the other time falling on Australia Day at the beginning of the year.
The list includes the Order of Australia and other awards such as the Australian Bravery Decorations, the Defence Force Awards, Australian Public Service Medals, and the National Emergency Medal.
Do you have any ideas for the King’s Birthday to share? Got any feedback for us?
Let us know in the comment section below! We’d love to hear from you there!
