The Prime Minister refused to say whether he would raise the dismissal letters exchanged between former governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen ahead of the Whitlam government's removal in 1975.

Mr Turnbull, the former head of the Australian Republican movement, was tight-lipped – in keeping with protocol – ahead of the meeting which his wife Lucy will also attend.

"Even Republicans like myself can be, and in my case are, very strong Elizabethans as well," Mr Turnbull said.

"Discussions are always confidential, but I'm sure her Majesty will be keen to know what the major issues are and developments in Australia. I look forward to her advice and wisdom, she has after all advised many, many prime ministers.".

"The Queen has embodied selfless public service, dignity, wisdom, leadership for longer and more magnificently than anyone alive today, there is no doubt."

Mr Turnbull said that, back in 1999 when he was head of the defeated Republican campaign, he had never imagined that 18 years later he would meet the monarch as Prime Minister of Australia.

"She has been a remarkable leader of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, she has been our head of state for all of that time, and I will be very honoured to meet her as Australia's Prime Minister and to share my thoughts about Australia and hear what she has to say."

Soon after he became Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull indicated his support for the release of the letters between Sir John and the Queen and suggested he would intervene in the matter.

The letters between Buckingham Palace and Kerr regarding the dismissal – and what the Queen knew and when – reside in the National Archives and have been marked personal, rather than official, and will not be released until 2027.

A Federal Court case is due to commence next month to force the release of the letters. The Palace can intervene to veto their release, too.

The visit to the Queen by the avowed Republican will be Mr Turnbull's final event on his week-long swing through Europe.