THE HARD WORD | The Monarchy just gave a great big two-fingered salute to the doubters, the haters and the critics… and I loved it!

More than 80 per cent of Australians want dashing young Prince William – not his father – to be the next king, a new survey has found.

Four hours standing in chilling, wet conditions to watch the Queen’s diamond jubilee pageant paid off for one young Australian whose day warmed up when she spied a dashing Prince Harry.

Australians joined an estimated 1.25 million rain-lashed royal supporters, lining the Thames to celebrate the grand spectacle of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

During a grand event staged in front of Buckingham Palace, international artists representing each decade of the Queen’s reign will perform, with Kylie Minogue and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu representing Australia.

As Great Britain celebrates the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Australia helped mark the occasion with a memorial service and jubilee lunches.

A very proud Australian will take to London’s River Thames for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant aboard a boat brimming with royals.

There’s a boat load of Aussie Mongrels who are ready to row in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee river pageant in London on Sunday.

Full list of the major Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events in London, including the Thames Boat Procession and Jubilee Concert plus where to watch the celebration on big screens.

Whether you’re a monarchist, anarchist or a party opportunist, there will be no escaping celebrations marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee across Australia.

The Windsor family would be nothing more than “inbred aristocrats” under a republican model proposed by campaigners. As countries around the globe prepare to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne, UK pressure group Republic is planning “the biggest anti-monarchy protest in living memory”.

In an age without tweets, texts, TVs or transportable telephones, Australians relied on word of mouth to help spread the news of Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne 60 years ago.

Gurrumul Yunupingu will be joining a host of stars to perform at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert on 4 June.

Qantas, not Queensland taxpayers, will fund a competition that offers a trip to London to the those who throw the best party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Australian surf lifesavers will join The Queen on the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June.

RIGHT SAID ED | In less than a month London is going to be transformed. Not from Olympic fever or Trenton Oldfield histrionics (fingers crossed) but from a righteous celebration that will be the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Australian who disrupted the Oxford-Cambridge boat race has been given strict bail conditions. Trenton Oldfield, 35, caused the race on 7 April to be stopped for half an hour by swimming in front of the rowing crews on the Thames.

Prince Charles and wife Camilla will begin a series of official international visits next month to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, with the couple’s travel schedule taking in Australia later in the year.

Australian artists will perform alongside the likes of Elton John and Paul McCartney for a special concert celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. But the question is, will Australia’s Pop Princess be invited to the royal event?