your first term >> no. >> anthony albanese they're speaking to cordelia lynch. queen elizabeth became monarch five years after india's independence, she made three state visits to the country during her reign. let's find out how her death has been received their. or neville lazarus is in delhi for us this morning, what has the reaction been there? the reaction been ther>> well it has been q, the government has called for a day of mourning today, the national flag is to fly half mast, no government officials will take place now, the queen has visited in just three times, 1961, 1983 and 1997, with her lifelong partner prince philip. it has been probably on the same route that she has taken to go to the building behind me, which is the precedence house where she would have been given a ceremonial welcome. all of these three visits that she has made, she has known all the leaders in linda starting from mahatma gandhi to the present prime minister modi, she has also been talking about how the diversity and the broad diversity in the country is an inspiration to all.

here's that international exclusive interview with our correspondent, cordelia lynch. >> you have announced a public holiday to mark the queen's death. why was that so important to? >> i think it's important that we commemorate the remarkable life and indeed the service the queen elizabeth ii australia. for 70 years longest serving british monarch ever. and a great deal of affection from australians to the queen. well thursday, -- to be the day after -- the del kings representative in australia return from the service in london. here, that will occur in parliament house of the great hall. we've declared a national day morning. together, with the states and territories, we agreed yesterday to have a national one-off public holiday. >> the australians relationship with the queen -- injuring what do you think it was about her reign that achieve that special connection? >> i think the queen was with australians during times of celebration, but was also with australia at times of difficulties and queen elizabeth always reached out to give that comfort to australians at times of need. she was suc

let's speak then to our correspondent co-dearly lynch who is in the australian capital, cordelia, it was you that this interview of course with the australian prime minister. so give us an update about what he said about the relationship between him and the monarchy. ip>> well, anthony albanese has long been known as a republican back in 2018 he said that australia needed an australian head of state. i think what he recognizes now in this moment is that this is a critical time for the country to show its respect and its gratitude to the queen, whatever debate we have seen in the past range with australia's relationship with the monarchy is separate to its relationship with the queen. i have witnessed a really deep love for the monarch here, she visited the country 16 times. she always spoke fondness about it, anthony albanese said that she was able to console, comfort at a time when the country most needed it, that's during floods for instance, during natural disasters. she was there for them and he doesn't think that this is a time to discuss politics and he confirmed that he would