Australia threw a giant barbecue in perfect weather to farewell the Queen after an 11-day visit in which she opened Perth's CHOGM and bolstered the stock of the monarchy in the face of Australia's apparent indifference to becoming a republic. The Queen and Prince Philip left Australia on Saturday for the 16th, and possibly final, time following a community barbecue on the banks of the Swan River attended by an estimated 100,000-plus people.
The picture-postcard scene - under a "big blue Australian sky" as West Australian Premier Colin Barnett noted - was not lost on the Queen.
"I can think of no more fitting way to end our visit than in this idyllic Swan River setting," the Queen told tens of thousands of flag-waving Aussies whose sausage sizzle purchases were all going to charity.
"Once again we return to the UK with fond memories of our warm welcome on our 16th visit to this beautiful country."
The Queen praised Australia for hosting a "most successful" CHOGM, saying the nation had endeared itself to the international community through its professional excellence, generosity and goodwill.
"We have enjoyed our visit immensely," she said.
"We have been overwhelmed by your kindness and support."
The Queen is no stranger to barbecues, either as a guest or host.
When Prime Minister Paul Keating visited her at Balmoral castle in Scotland in 1993, to tell her most Australians felt the monarchy was an anachronism, she offered him the choice of a formal dinner or a barbecue.
Mr Keating took the Aussie option.
The Queen, dressed down to tweeds, drove him in her Land Rover to a remote hut on her estate where Prince Philip was busy cooking the steaks.
Mr Keating has told how the Queen asked him to help her fetch the plates from the boot.
And when the barbecue was over she asked him to help with the dishes, which he did.
This time the hosting duties were reversed, and Lyn Barnett, the WA premier's wife, gave Prince Philip a gift which will come in handy if he has another Keating moment - an Aussie barbecue cookbook.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh waved at throngs lining the streets on their motorcade from Government House.
Perth's Bell Tower rang in welcome as they arrived on the Swan River foreshore, where the Queen addressed the crowd and enjoyed a leisurely walkabout.
Wearing a pink and white silk dress, she spoke with celebrity chef Anna Gare, and told her she was very excited about the fresh food movement among Australian youngsters.
"I told her England's Jamie Oliver has had a huge influence on cooking in Australia," Ms Gare said.
Jill Bishop, from Gidgegannup, told the Queen: "It's been wonderful to have you here" and Her Majesty replied: "It's been wonderful to be here."
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, the last person to farewell the Queen, said: "She was just adorable."
During her Australian visit the Queen had audiences with Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
She paid tribute to Australia's fallen soldiers at Canberra's War Memorial, and had lunch with a number of notable Australians including Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, horse-racing legend Bart Cummings and indigenous leader June Oscar.
Perth easily turned on the biggest crowds of her visit, but in Brisbane, where she met flood and cyclone victims, an estimated 45,000 well-wishers cheered her on a boat trip.
In Melbourne she officially opened the new Royal Children's Hospital almost 50 years after opening the original.
In Perth she visited an Aboriginal college and opened CHOGM with an appeal to leaders of more than 50 countries to implement bold reforms to rejuvenate a beleaguered Commonwealth.
Republicanism has been on the wane in Australia since the failure of the 1999 referendum, and the Queen's visit capped a purple patch for the royals, highlighted by Prince William's marriage earlier this year to Catherine Middleton.
Many commentators have been calling this her last tour of Australia in light of the 85-year-old monarch's age.
But a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman insisted the tour did not have the feeling of a final event, and the monarch was "delighted" with the warmth of the reception she received.
"It's almost a coming home for the Queen," the spokeswoman said.
"She has a huge fondness for Australia.
"A lot of Australians have worked in her household.
"There's no sense at all of 'Thank you and goodbye'."
(By Doug Conway, AAP Senior Correspondent, ninemsn.com.au )
