Oz girl guides abandon pledge to 'serve Queen and country'

London, July 7 (ANI): Girl guides in Australia have abandoned the pledge where they owe their allegiance to the Queen in order to cut ties with the crown.

The sensational move ends more than a century of tradition in which the girl guides have promised to serve the Queen.

God has also been abandoned in the new Guide Promise.

THE OLD GUIDE PROMISE

"I promise that I will do my best:

To do my duty to God, to serve the Queen and my country;

To help other people; and

To keep the Guide Law."

THE NEW GUIDE PROMISE

"I promise that I will do my best:

To be true to myself and develop my beliefs

To serve my community and Australia

And live by the Guide Law."

Girl Guides Australia director Belinda Allen told the Australian Broadcasting Commission that the Queen has become contentious with a number of members.

"It was very much felt that she wasn't the word required, but people could very much serve her by serving Australia," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying said.

The move follows a number of decisions over the years to gradually cut ties with the Crown.

Many Australians have said that it is time for the country to become a republic.

Nevertheless, taking the Queen out of the Guide Promise has caused controversy among the older members of the organisation, Allen admitted.

"It's been a huge, huge decision and it hasn't been taken lightly at all.

"We very, very much respect that for many of our members that's a promise that's dear to their heart and that's a promise they made as young women and they have lived by all their life," she asaid referring to the old wording.

But the Monarch will not be forgotten, the top honour of the Queen's Guide will remain.

Allen said that God has been removed because members did not feel "duty to God" reflected all faiths and belief systems across the world. (ANI)