Australian citizens are entitled to free Queen Elizabeth II memorabilia

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Okay...

The Queen is the reigning Sovereign over several nations, and one of those is Australia.

But did you know that Australian citizens are permitted to request this rather unusual gift from Queen Elizabeth herself?

Under the Parliamentary Entities Act of 1990, Australian citizens can receive 'nationhood material', which includes recordings of the National Anthem, a booklet explaining the flags of Australia and and a book covering the national symbols of the country.

And the 'constituents’ request program' also allows Australian citizens to ask for a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip. It shows the Queen wearing an Australian coat of arms label pin and a brooch which was presented to her in 1954 during her first royal tour of the country.

If you're an Australian citizen who wants to get hold of one, all you have to do is email your federal MP and make a request - but know that there's no rush, despite the fact that people are only just catching on to the little-known scheme.

MP Rebekha Sharkie wrote: 'We've received more than 25 requests for a portrait of Queen in the last 12 hours,' following the news going viral.

Tim Watts, an MP in Victoria, said: 'I do find this to be comfortably the dumbest part of my job. But be warned youth of Gellibrand: if you request a portrait of Liz, there's nothing stopping me sending you some other 'material' in the same parcel.'

If you want the picture but you're not from down under, things work a little differently.

Brits have to buy the photo if they want to add it to their collection, but Canadian citizens are able to download it.

Jadie Troy-Pryde
News Editor

Jadie Troy-Pryde is News Editor, covering celebrity and entertainment, royal, lifestyle and viral news. Before joining the team in 2018 as the Lifestyle and Social Media Editor, she worked at a number of women’s fashion and lifestyle titles including Grazia, Women’s Health and Stylist, and now heads the Marie Claire UK news desk.