Oh dear, oh dear! Tony Abbott has done it again! He had Australians asking this morning (26th January 2015) “Is it Australia Day – or April Fool’s Day?”, when he revealed that  Prince Philip, had been awarded a Knight of the Order of Australia, this country’s highest honour.

Tony Abbott has awarded Prince Philip a knighthood. Illustration: John Shakespeare

The 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, who has made a string of controversial and memorable gaffes during his wife’s reign, became a trending topic on Twitter in Australia shortly after Mr Abbott announced that he would receive the honour. The online reaction was largely one of disbelief, and far from complimentary, and in fact some thought it to be a hoax.

In particular, critics referred to Prince Philip’s 2002 visit to Australia with the Queen, when he asked an Aboriginal man: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”

Mr Abbott dismissed the criticism, describing the negative reaction on social media as “electronic graffiti”.  “I’ll leave social media to its own devices. 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,” Mr Abbott said. “You wouldn’t report what’s sprayed up on the walls of buildings.”

Mr Abbott was peppered with questions at an Australia Day function in Canberra about whether there were any Australians who would have been more deserving of the knighthood than a British royal. The conferring of this award has no affect on his position in the royal heirarchy, he is already a duke and a prince.

However, Twitter saw it this way:

• I want to be angry about Prince Philip being made a Knight of Australia, but I’m too busy laughing to be honest! pic.twitter.com/9lesqwOUWt — John Anthony James (@JohnJamesOZ) January 25, 2015
• So TA gave Prince Philip a knighthood, kind of like someone giving Richard Branson’s wife their frequent flyer miles #philgate — Deb R (@BrissieDeb) January 25, 2015
• Surely Shane Warne was more deserving of a knighthood than Prince Phillip? Sir Shane? @ShaneWarne — Stephen Koukoulas (@TheKouk) January 25, 2015
• Once the Queen reminds him where Australia is, I’m certain Prince Philip will be delighted with his new knighthood. http://t.co/zx8F6Ef1gS — Richard Hull (@richardhhull) January 25, 2015
• I’m starting to wonder if Tony Abbott is actually just one of the Chaser boys waiting for us to realise. http://t.co/pTWp0smBoU — Hugh Rundle (@HughRundle) January 25, 2015
• Is there no one in the office capable of uttering the simple phrase: “This is a dumb idea that is all pain and no gain?” — Chris Kenny (@chriskkenny) January 25, 2015
• Prince Philip is like “Frankly I am not amused by all this fuss. I’ve never been fond of Austria.” — Paul Webster (@p_webs) January 25, 2015
• Trying to Australianise the monarchy. Reminds me of that episode of A Country Practice where Bob(?) thought he was an earl. — Terri Butler MP (@terrimbutler) January 25, 2015
• Congratulations Prince Philip on your knighthood, and congratulations the Middle Ages on becoming a thing again! — Jesse Thompson (@jethom17) January 25, 2015
• So proud. Australia knights Prince Philip. Who needs satire? — Kevin Airs (@KevinAirs442) January 25, 2015
• Prince Philip? Memo Abbott, it’s #Stralya day today, not April Fools day. — Scott Ellis (@blahblahellis) January 25, 2015
• What next? Will Abbott make his horse a Senator? #auspol — Dave Noonan (@DaveNoonanCFMEU) January 25, 2015
• Coming up in the next exciting episode of My Australia Day Honours List Rules… pic.twitter.com/QOct9GzJp4 — James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) January 25, 2015
• Australia Day gets even more of an 18th Century feel with the appointment of new knights http://t.co/0DnYB1lRwC — Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) January 25, 2015
• Prince Philip: “Oh look, Lizzie. The colonies are giving me a knighthood! It’s like they think they’re people.” [sips tea & shrugs, baffled] — Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) January 25, 2015
• People focussing on Prince Philip’s casual racism. Let’s not forget: “To female sea cadet last year: “Do you work in a strip club?” Arise! — Tony Wilson (@byTonyWilson) 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

  A poll in the Canberra Times asked this question: Should Prince Philip have been made an Australian knight?

  Yes. He has served Australia with distinction.

  7%

  No. It takes Australia back to the 18th century.

  93%

  Total votes: 40,574.

  Disclaimer:  These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.

  Source: Canberra Tines (as edited)