Australian royal symbols

A number of royal symbols exist in Australia, reflecting the country's status as a constitutional monarchy. These include symbols of the monarch of Australia, as well as the monarch's Vice-regal representatives.

Despite the removal or replacement of certain monarchical symbols in recent history, the Crown remains a visible part of the everyday lives of Australians. A number of symbols of the monarchy are based on British heraldry, such as the Royal Coat of Arms of Australia, though these have been adapted with purely Australian symbols, and what were formerly purely British symbols have become symbols of the monarch, or loyalty thereto. Use of the royal Crown is granted by Royal Proclamation, and through royal patronage, certain organizations may also have or use royal symbols. Many organizations in Australia that have been granted a Royal prefix often incorporate royal symbols into their imagery.

The reigning monarch's image is traditionally printed on Australian coins, some currency and postage stamps such as the Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp. Coins bear an effigy of the monarch as the function of currency to serve as a readily accepted medium of exchange rests on the state being a guarantor of the money's value, and the sovereign is the personal representation of the state itself. Produced by the Royal Australian Mint, all coins portray Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, with the present effigy having been designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

Though images of sovereigns have been present in the country since Australia was first settled by Europeans, only in the past century have Australia's royals been portrayed by Australian artists. The official portrait of Her Majesty was painted by Sir William Dargie, although other Australians, namely Rolf Harris, have also painted portraits.

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