Aussies in for royal visit

London's substantial Australian population - an astonishing 250,000 at the last count - is to be swelled this week by a new batch from Down Under. However, the latest recruits are unlikely to be pulling pints at the Walkabout Bar at King's Cross.

This delegation will include Australia's prime minister John Howard and up to 40 politicians, dignitaries and their staff, including five state premiers, most of the cabinet and four former Prime Ministers.

They are here for a week of celebrations to mark Australia's hundredth anniversary as an independent, unified nation. It will also be the first official Australian visit since the referendum last November when their countrymen rejected republicanism in favour of the Queen.

Despite the narrowness of the vote, the Australian government is so keen to promote its continuing allegiance to the Crown that it has sent over an "honour guard" to perform sentry duties outside Buckingham Palace.

The 150-strong Australian Federation Guard is formed from all three services and was created as a security force for the Sydney Olympics in September. The guard includes women and it is the first time that females will perform sentry duty at the Palace.

"Members of the Australian infantry performed sentry duty in 1953 and 1988," said Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dick-Peter, of London Army HQ. "But it is the first time women will have been on Queen's Guard outside Buckingham Palace.

"However, there are only three or four on each duty, so there will be sufficient ablution facilities, and they won't have to have mixed baths."

On a more serious note, the centre-piece of the celebrations will be a sitting in the House of Commons on 5 July - exactly 100 years after the passing of the Act of Parliament that welded the Australian colonies into a single federation. It will also include a Thanksgiving Service for Australia attended by the Queen at Westminster Abbey on 7 July.

However, the main thrust of the week will be the promotion of modern Australia as Tony Eggleton, head of the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, explained.

"Commemorating our history is important and we are proud of it. But we will also be looking forward this week, with major forums on Australia as a centre for investment, banking, trade, tourism and the arts."

Down Under, however, there is vociferous opposition about the London celebrations. Many Australians view it as an excuse for an extravagant foreign junket on the part of their political leaders.

Latest estimates suggest that it will cost Australian taxpayers at least $1.7 million (£700,000) in air fares for the political entourage plus expenses and travelling costs for the honour guard of soldiers.

Opposition leader Kim Beazley, described the week-long round of receptions, dinners and other social events as "a caravan that would make Marco Polo proud". Mr Beazley, along with former Labour prime minister Paul Keating, has refused to attend the event in the House of Commons.

He claims Prime Minister John Howard should be answering questions in the House of Representatives in Canberra, not taking part in a "historical charade" at the Palace of Westminster.

Meanwhile, a group of Aborigines are planning their own demonstration in London today outside Australia House. "The Aboriginal people have many issues which they like to make their voice heard about," said Mr Eggleton.

"We will have to wait and see what their banners say."