I honestly can never understand peoples obsession with royalty.

I believe it goes back to the days when they could literally have your head off on a whim - somehow when they stopped doing that many people thought it was kinda cool. My mother's generation was made for Elizabeth II - and the Queen Mum when she was still with us. This was a woman who refused to leave London at the height of the blitz - a show of solidarity with ordinary people that won her immense support. Charles, Diana, Andrew, Fergie - that all came much later, but the old school royals werent considered lightweight tabloid fodder. Philip is a bit of an odd duck, but that doesnt seem to be a barrier to life in the House of Windsor.

Keating had the right character assessment on these guys two decades ago

Keating and his predassessor Hawke got nothing right.....fool socialists. I can't imagine he got anything right.

Abbott is a tool, what a waste of money and pathetic suck job. it will be a one term govt this one and the shorten and his mates can get on with the job of destroyingb Australia completely.

Keating has probably been the most right wing australian treasurer in the past 40 years. He make an excellent first australian president.

And yep I'm being serious.

Ohh good heavens.....give me the strength.

Ps: won't happen.

We are going to be a monarchy for the next 100 years, and that is just pathetic. Your last point is sadly very true.

The Aussies absolutely adore their monarchy and will do what they can to show it.

Pigs rectum !! Bring on a proper referendum (Not a concocted one by John Howard ) and we will see how much adoration there is. Australia is now a multi-cultural nation.....not a british Colony..

I have always remembered a Papua New Guinea pidgin description of the prince - "Big fella bilong missus kwin".

Australia is now a multi-cultural nation

Yep, even got the terrorism to prove it!

The Aussies absolutely adore their monarchy and will do what they can to show it.

Pigs rectum !! Bring on a proper referendum (Not a concocted one by John Howard ) and we will see how much adoration there is. Australia is now a multi-cultural nation.....not a british Colony..

upthos fished for a bite and got one.

Agreed, the referendum was a vote for a crap system. Not really a choice at all.

Crikey we would be known as the USA The United States of Australia.

As far as poor Prince Phillip being Knighted, who cares. It's all media hysterics and beat-up. Nothing will change as far as Phillip goes, he had a laugh over it himself.

Andrew Bolt says Tony Abbott's 'pathetically stupid' knighthood decision could be fatal to leadership

Conservative commentator and long-time Tony Abbott supporter Andrew Bolt says the Prime Minister's decision to award a knighthood to Prince Philip could be fatal for his leadership.

Mr Abbott has promised to consult more as the storm over his decision to award the country's highest honour to the Queen's husband continues to grow.

Some of the Prime Minister's strongest advocates are continuing to join the chorus of criticism against him, while media baron Rupert Murdoch is demanding he sack his high-profile chief of staff Peta Credlin.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-29/andrew-bolt-tony-abbott-philip-knighthood/6053446

Tony Abbott foolish if he ignores leadership rumblings in wake of knighthood decision.

The central question arising from Tony Abbott's curious "Buck" Palace knighthood is how much prestige it has cost him and whether he is now in imminent danger of a leadership move?

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/tony-abbott-foolish-if-he-ignores-leadership-rumblings-in-wake-of-knighthood-decision-20150127-12yyp1.html

I don't know what it has to do with Murdock as he is an American after denouncing his aussie citizenship.

'Abbott knighthood a joke and embarrassment': Rupert Murdoch turns on PM over Prince Philip honour... days after the media mogul met with Julie Bishop.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2927708/Abbott-knighthood-joke-embarrassment-Rupert-Murdoch-turns-PM-Prince-Philip-honour-days-media-mogul-met-Julie-Bishop.html#ixzz3Q9Vp0g9p
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Here's some Gaffes and outspoken quotes from the silver tongued Prince Phillip,small wonder he has never been considered the Master of Diplomacy! wherever he goes in the world.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-philip-quotes-relive-90-133848

I supported the return of knighthoods as it seemed right for this honour/title to be bestowed on Australians by an Australian leader, rather than at the discretion of the Queen of England. But this makes a joke of that whole concept. Poor, poor judgement.

Not sure how that works out, what's the point in giving a knighthood to a duke its like making a general a corporal. However I guess it does mean something to people who appreciate this throwback to an age when the serfs knew their place.