The Truth of the Palace Letters

by Paul Kelly, Troy Bramston

Discover the true meaning of the Palace Letters and their significance today.

In July 2020 the National Archives of Australia released the long-suppressed correspondence between Sir John Kerr and Queen Elizabeth II, written during Kerr’s tumultuous tenure as Governor-General of Australia. The letters cover the constitutional crisis that culminated in Kerr’s infamous dismissal of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.

In The Truth of the Palace Letters Paul Kelly and Troy Bramston reveal their meaning and significance for understanding the dismissal. The analysis of these documents and their authors throws a revealing light on the connection between the Queen in Buckingham Palace and the Governor-General in Canberra. Coupled with newly discovered archival documents and interviews, Kelly and Bramston explain the implications of the letters for our Constitution, our democracy and the republic debate.

Genres: Politics

Paperback

Published November 30, 2020

About the author

Australian political journalist who is currently editor-at-large at The Australian and was previously its editor-in-chief. He has written numerous books on Australian politics and political history.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a response to the book Jenny Hocking wrote after she gained access to the Palace Letters between the Governor General Sir John Kerr and the Queen's secretary re the Dismissal. The authors have a very different view of the letters than Jenny Hocking has.  Hocking believes that the letters prove beyond doubt that the Palace conspired with Kerr to get rid of Whitlam.   The authors believe the exact opposite - that the letters prove they didn't conspire.   I agree with the authors.  A superficial reading of the letters by someone who had no knowledge of typical regal correspondence in the 1970s could support conspiracy theories but experts in the field can interpret the letters more objectively.  The authors do a good job of analysing and dissecting Hocking's arguments in great detail in order to rebut them.   I agree with the authors - Kerr had the power to dismiss Whitlam but should have warned him first. 

[Ruby Noise]

Browsing the library I came across this bound bit of paper & took it home excited to read the 'story.'
I made it to page 26.
It was clear to me that the 'authors' have a beef against Jenny Hocking and her work in having the palace letters released.
Sour grapes? Jealousy?
Jenny should be applauded for her work in obtaining the release of the letters to us the public, not argued against.
The letters are available on line so us with eyes to see and a brain to discern can read the letters ourselves and make our own judgments from what is written between John Kerr, notice I omitted the titles of sir & Martin Charteris.
I see the 'authors' are editor and senior writer for the Australian. Hmmm. I don't believe a word any of these main stream editors & writers sprout.
I call this bit of binding propaganda and for that reason no stars are given.

[Tony Bertram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read alongside Jenny Hocking's The Palace Letters. This is the much lesser book. It sidesteps a few issues to put the Palace in a better light. Both books have little good to say about Kerr. Both books indicate that Charteris and Prince Charles had little understanding of their roles in a constitutional monarchy.