#TIME » The Aussies Just Made the Queen’s Husband a Knight Comments Feed Miss Colombia Paulina Vega Named Miss Universe 2015 Debbie Reynolds Wins the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award alternate alternate TIME WordPress.com TIME Time.com MY ACCOUNT SIGN IN SIGN OUT SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE Home U.S. Politics World Business Tech Health Science Entertainment Newsfeed Living Sports History The TIME Vault Magazine Ideas Parents TIME Labs Money LIFE The Daily Cut Photography Videos TIME Shop The 100 Most Influential People The 25 Best Inventions of 2015 Future of Giving Know Right Now Next Generation Leaders Person of the Year 2015 Top 10 Everything of 2015 Top of the World A Year In Space Subscribe Newsletters Feedback Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights Terms of Use Ad Choices Ad Choices RSS TIME Apps TIME for Kids Advertising Reprints and Permissions Site Map Help Customer Service © 2016 Time Inc. All rights reserved. World MY ACCOUNT SIGN IN SIGN OUT SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE MORE (BUTTON) U.S. Edition * U.S. Edition * Europe, Middle East and Africa Edition * Asia Edition * South Pacific Edition Sanders Backs Ending Gun Manufacturer Immunity Jeb Bush Finds His Groove in Donald Trump’s Shadow Clinton and Sanders Set for High-Stakes Democratic Debate Republicans Criticize Deal to Free Iranian Prisoners Iran Sanctions Lifted as U.N. Agency Says Nuclear Deal Is Met Jeb Bush Sides With Trump in Debate Over ‘New York Values’ Masked ‘Scream Robber’ From FBI Most Wanted List Arrested in Colorado Son Tricked California Nurse Into Thinking She Won the Powerball What to Know About the U.S. Prisoners Released by Iran Here’s Why People in Panda Suits Are Following Chris Christie Around TIME World Australia The Aussies Just Made the Queen’s Husband a Knight * David Stout @david_m_stout Jan. 26, 2015 SHARE The First World War exhibition open - London Eddie Mulholland—The Telegraph/PA Wire/AP Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, attends the opening of "First World War in the Air" exhibition at the RAF Museum in Hendon, England, on Dec. 2, 2014 That's like "giving a Beyoncé CD to Jay-Z" says Aussie comic Adam Hills More What it’s Like to Own Guns in a Country with Strict Gun ControlAn Australian Family Rents an Airbnb That Turns Out to Be a Drug DenA Raging Wildfire in Western Australia Has Destroyed an Entire Town Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott spent Monday morning mired in controversy after his office kicked off Australia Day celebrations by making Britain’s Prince Philip a Knight of the Order of Australia. Australians have long been acquainted with the 93-year-old royal, who is notorious for uttering headline-worthy gaffes. During a trip to the Lucky Country in 2002, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he is officially titled, asked an Aboriginal man: “Do you still throw spears at each other?” Nevertheless, Abbott praised Prince Philip’s “long life of service” during a flag-raising ceremony in the Australian capital, Canberra, on Monday morning. “This honor recognizes the contribution of the Duke of Edinburgh to Australia throughout the Queen’s 62-year reign,” read a statement released by Abbott’s office. “For three quarters of a century, Prince Philip has served the Crown, and the wider Commonwealth.” Following the announcement, Australians took to social media to slam the decision to give the nation’s top honor to the Prince rather than an Australian. Arise, Sir Prince Philip! Honestly, you couldn’t make this stuff up! Well played, Tones. Keeping political satire alive and well. — Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) January 25, 2015 Giving a Knighthood to Prince Philip is like giving a Beyoncé CD to Jay-Z. Surely he could just pick one up at home. — Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) January 25, 2015 I’m sure this will mean so much to Prince Philip. According to Google he already has 25 other honors with the word “knight” in the title. — Scott Ellis (@blahblahellis) January 25, 2015 Abbott attempted to defend the decision during an Australia Day function in Canberra. “Social media is kind of like electronic graffiti and I think that in the media, you make a big mistake to pay too much attention to social media,” he told reporters, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Tap to read full story 0 0 Read Next Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com * Home * U.S. * Politics * World * Business * Tech * Health * Science * Entertainment * Newsfeed * Living * Ideas * Parents * Sports * History * The TIME Vault * Magazine * Subscribe * Give a Gift * TIME Shop * Newsletters * Customer Service * Site Map * Privacy Policy * Your California Privacy Rights * Terms of Use * Advertising * Ad Choices Ad Choices © 2016 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Powered by WordPress.com VIP [p?c1=2&c2=6035728&c3=&c4=&c5=&c6=&c15=&cv=2.0&cj=1]