Just as cricketer Shane Warne and entertainer Bert Newton were, Queen Elizabeth II will be farewelled in Australia with a performance by ARIA Award winner Anthony Callea.
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The appearance of the former Australian Idol contestant - who met and sung to the Queen in Sydney in 2006 - was one of several details confirmed for Thursday's national memorial service at Parliament House.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton will deliver short tributes at the service led by TV presenter Melissa Doyle.
Premiers and chief ministers of each state and territory, all state governors and all justices of the High Court have confirmed their attendance, the prime minister said on Sunday.
Thursday's national service will be the centrepiece of a day of mourning, marked with a one-off public holiday and memorial services in each state and territory.
"It will be an opportunity to mourn as a nation," Mr Albanese told Sky News.
"It will be an important day to pay tribute to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II."
Melbourne-born Callea performed his cover of The Prayer at Newton's state funeral in November 2021 and the spin king's memorial service at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March.
It's a song the Queen heard herself during a church service in Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral that marked Commonwealth Day in 2006.
Callea was then among a handful of guests privileged to chat to the Queen during a royal reception later that day.
"The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has obviously resonated throughout the world, especially in Australia," Callea told AAP in a statement.
"Having previously had the privilege to perform for her, and after receiving the call from the Prime Minister's office, I look forward to performing again, this time to celebrate her incredible life."
Each jurisdiction is treating Thursday differently, with South Australian retailers having to stay closed until midday as a mark of respect, as occurs on Anzac Day.
In Victoria, NSW and Queensland, the day will be a normal trading day, as is the case for Australia Day, Boxing Day and other public holidays.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has instructed his department to retain as much of their planned elective surgery as possible, subject to staff availability.
In Western Australia, public holiday trading hours will apply, with general retail stores able to trade between 11am and 5pm.
There will be no restrictions on trade in Tasmania, but businesses will still be required to comply with penalty rate arrangements.
Australian Associated Press
