Sydney, March. 11 (BNA) Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived in Canberra on Sunday at the start of a five day visit to Australia that will climax with the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on March 15.
It's the British monarch's 15th visit to Australia. Her first visit was in 1954 and her last in 2002, when she opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Several hundred well-wishers were at Canberra airport to greet their arrival. Among them were Prime Minister John Howard and Governor- General Michael Jeffery. There is speculation that this may be the queen's last major overseas tour. She will be 80 next month and may delegate overseas duties to son and heir Prince Charles.