His Majesty The King Charles III grants the use of a new Great Seal of Australia

On 21 October 2024, His Majesty King Charles III was joined by the Governor-General of Australia and the Prime Minister to authorise the use of the new Great Seal of Australia.

The King signed 2 Royal Warrants granting the new Great Seal as both the Great Seal of Australia (primarily used by the Governor-General of Australia to show approval of important documents), and as a Royal Great Seal for certain purposes where the Sovereign is required to sign documents personally.

The former Great Seal of Australia was authorised for use by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973 and was ceremonially decommissioned by the Governor-General on 24 October 2024, marking the beginning of the new Great Seal of Australia.

The design of the new Great Seal depicts the Coat of Arms of Australia, centred on the seal, and encircled by a laurel of wattle. The Coat of Arms was issued under Royal Warrant by George V on 19 September 1912.

This is the seventh Great Seal since the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia. Provision was made for the first seal to be created after the office of the Governor-General was established via letters patent signed by Queen Victoria in 1900. The design of the first Great Seal featured the British Coat of Arms surrounded by the Australian state shields and was authorised for use by King Edward VII in 1903.

Subsequent variations of the seal were issued in:

• 1912 by King George V
• 1938 and 1948 by King George VI
• 1954 and 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II.