Prince Philip recommended for knighthood by Australia

[Chippiewill]

Australian PM Tony Abbott has used the country's national day to announce a knighthood for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mr Abbott, who reintroduced the honour last year, said the Prince had lived a "long life of service and dedication".

Opposition politicians described the decision as out-of-step with the times.

The leader of the opposition Labor party, Bill Shorten, said it was "anachronistic" to give the top award to a British royal on Australia Day.

He told Fairfax radio he thought the news was a joke at first, adding: "Why would we give him our top Australian honour? He's already got a lot of them."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30977964

I find it pretty funny that Prince Phillip would get a knighthood from a country in the commonwealth.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Good to see, I like Prime Minister Abbott because he actually seems to stand up and defend what he believes in against the sour grapes in the Labor Party - much like former PM John Howard did when he was in office during the 1990s/2000s. Both stood up for the monarchy, both stood up for the flag and it's worked with both reviving in popularity. It was only last year that Abbott brought back the Knighthoods and Damehoods to Australia and the left over there went beserk: tough luck. Don't accept one then if you don't like it you shower of hypocrites. *cough 'Dame' Quentin Bryce*

It goes to show that conservative ideas like the Union and the Commonwealth can be defended properly: which is why our Tory Party needs brushing aside.

[Alkaz]

I think it's good that they've reintroduced it, I think it's more symbolic to offer it to Prince Philip, although it does seem rather strange considering his current rank within the monarchy.

[GommeInc]

Isn't this a nice way to downgrade his status? :P It seems pointless to award it to him when they could probably focus on people who actually deserve honours.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Isn't this a nice way to downgrade his status? :P It seems pointless to award it to him when they could probably focus on people who actually deserve honours.

63 years of service for a Commonwealth realm ain't bad.

[GommeInc]

63 years of service for a Commonwealth realm ain't bad.
It seems like something that comes with his title and position in the Commonwealth. It's not bad but it should almost be expected.