As cheeky royal salutations go, you could call it a zinger.
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When local businesses around Australia were invited to help mark the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III with a message in their local newspaper, the KFC outlet in Bendigo seized the opportunity for some finger-licking fun.
"No coronation needed," KFC's advertisement in Saturday's Bendigo Advertiser crows.
"The king of fried chicken has already been crowned."
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
As the May 6 editions of the United Kingdom's royals-obsessed newspapers herald a "day of destiny" for King Charles, the Saturday print edition of this masthead and the ACM network's 13 other daily newspapers carry a special souvenir to commemorate the historic crowning at Westminster Abbey.
Moments with His Majesty examines Australia's relationship with the King, his seven-decade apprenticeship in the shadow of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his visits down under over the years.
With historic photos from the archives and flashbacks to local coverage of memorable royal tours, ACM's editors, journalists and photographers join with readers and civic leaders to share memories of their community's brush with then Prince Charles, including his visits with the late Princess Diana in 1983 and, decades later, now-Queen Consort Camilla.
The commemorative special is published in the May 6 editions of The Canberra Times, Newcastle Herald, Illawarra Mercury, Tamworth's Northern Daily Leader, Orange's Central Western Daily, Bathurst's Western Advocate, Dubbo's Daily Liberal, Wagga's Daily Advertiser, Albury-Wodonga's The Border Mail, the Bendigo Advertiser, Ballarat's The Courier, Warrnambool's The Standard, Launceston's The Examiner and Burnie's The Advocate.
Each paper's keepsake features advertisements placed by local businesses, members of state and federal parliament, local councils, schools, pubs and clubs.
Among the main street shops, car dealerships, funeral directors, optometrists, real estate agents and solicitors, many of the local traders take the opportunity to salute the monarch with a personal greeting.
Federal National Party MP for New England Barnaby Joyce, his Nationals colleague in the seat of Parkes, Mark Coulton, and state Liberal for Western Victoria Beverley McArthur stick faithfully to a royal blue colour scheme for their messages of congratulations to King Charles in their respective local papers.
But Joyce's former Nats leadership rival and fellow ex-deputy PM Michael McCormack sets the royal standard with a majestically deep bow on the front page of his hometown paper, The Daily Advertiser.
The Riverina MP's elegant message on the front of the newspaper he once edited is shaded a resplendent regal purple, adorned with crown motifs and a hint of Australian flag and the grand old expression "Felicitations, Your Majesty".
Wagga's much-loved Indian Tavern Tandoori Restaurant also joins the celebrations in the Weekend Advertiser.
While Liberal-National coalition MPs outnumber representatives of other political stripes in noting the coronation in their local paper, Labor's state MP for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, shows her support while sticking loyally with her party's preferred red colour scheme.
Phil Donato, the former NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP for Orange recently re-elected as an independent, focuses on the King's role in the Commonwealth in his message in the Central Western Daily.
In the Illawarra Mercury, the team at Worldwide Skip Bins offer a front page postcard greeting for His Majesty while the residents and staff of Illawarra Diggers Aged and Community Care also send the monarch their regards.
Children's party venue Ma Petite Cherie Kids Spa & Tea in nearby seaside Kiama takes the opportunity to showcase the pampering spa parties, high teas and other bespoke party experiences it can put on for "your little princess".
In Ballarat's The Courier, Allan Bros Jewellers showcases some of its dazzling wares under the line "Jewels fit for a royal".
In the Newcastle Herald in NSW, Newcastle Racecourse notes its proverbial tradition as "The Sport of Kings".
In the Bendigo Advertiser's coronation special, the mayor, councillors and staff of the City of Greater Bendigo hail the monarch with the declaration: "May your reign be an outstanding success across the Commonwealth and may you lead with strength, grace and respect".
Bendigo Health notes in its bow to the King that he's "the seventh serving monarch since Bendigo Health's founding service - the Bendigo Gold District General Hospital - opened in 1853".
Fast food chain KFC adds some playful herbs and spices in its ad in the Addy: "No coronation needed. The king of fried chicken has already been crowned".
Did somebody say republic?
