Charge dropped for Aussie who 'mooned' queen

A man who allegedly flashed his buttocks at Queen Elizabeth IIduring her visit to Australia last year had a charge of wilful exposure against him dropped.

Sydney man Liam Warriner, 22, was arrested in October and charged with exposing himself as the British monarch, who is also head of state in Australia, passed by during her visit to Brisbane.

During a mention of the matter in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, police on Tuesday said they were dropping the wilful exposure charge but proceeding with a public nuisance charge.

Warriner's lawyer John-Paul Mould said his client intended to plead guilty when the case is heard on February 14, Australian Associated Press reported.

Tens of thousands of people turned out to welcome the queen on a 10-day tour of Australia last October that took her to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

The queen is warmly regarded in Australia, a former British colony, though from time to time debate flares about whether ties to the monarchy should be cut and the nation become a republic.