Updated October 30, 2011 09:05:43
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Tens of thousands of people gathered on the Perth foreshore for the Queen's last Australian engagement in her 11-day visit.
The Queen has left Australia, boarding a jet in Perth on Saturday afternoon for an 18-hour flight home.
But before departing, the Queen and Prince Philip attended a barbecue on Perth's Esplanade on the banks of the Swan River.
Royal enthusiasts lined the streets to wave at the couple and listened attentively as the Queen addressed the crowd, saying the couple had enjoyed the visit immensely.
"Over the years, I have seen how this state has developed. The rich diversity of this vast state has never been more apparent from Margaret River wines to the rugged beauty of the Kimberley," she said.
"Your proximity to Asia has created opportunities for Western Australia to lead the nation's economic future in this region.
"Once again we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories of our time here and the warm Australian welcomed we have received."
Some spectators camped out early yesterday morning to get the best spots on the lawn.
"I'm very excited about seeing the Queen," one Royal fan said.
"I never got to see her in England, so it will be nice to see her now."
The 85-year-old monarch had been in Perth to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the end of a 11-day national visit that took in Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.
'A wonderful sight'
After a traditional welcome to country, WA Premier Colin Barnett thanked the Queen and Prince Philip.
"May I simply say on behalf of all Western Australians, thank you for visiting our country, thank you for visiting the state of Western Australia and thank you for being here at the big Aussie barbecue," he said.
"What a wonderful sight it is - flags flying, children, mums and dads, citizens from all over the world who have made Western Australia their home."
The Queen congratulated Mr Barnett for the success of the CHOGM week.
"Mr Premier, I offer my congratulations to you and to the people of WA on the presentation of a most successful heads of Commonwealth government's meeting," she said.
"You have endeared yourself to the international Commonwealth community."
The Queen and Prince Philip then walked among the crowd and accepted flowers and met some of the volunteers at the barbecues.
Volunteers cooked about 120,000 sausages on more than 100 barbecues to raise money for charity.
The Royal couple greeted Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, WA Governor Malcolm McCusker and Perth Mayor Lisa Scaffidi.
They then left the event for the airport to return to the UK.
Hundreds of people lined a fence at Perth International Airport to see the Queen and Prince Philip arrive on the tarmac by car and climb the aircraft gangway.
As the Queen and Prince Philip climbed the stairs, a cheer went up from the crowd at the fence.
At the top of the stairs, the Queen turned, and holding her hat with hand in the slight breeze, waved to the crowd before entering the aircraft.
ABC/AAP
Queen flies home after big Aussie barbie - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
