The newly released 'palace letters' reveal Australia's then governor general, John Kerr, sacked the Labor government of Gough Whitlam in 1975 without giving advance notice to the Queen, because 'it was better for Her Majesty not to know'. However, Jenny Hocking, the historian instrumental in getting the documents released, says the letters show an inappropriate 'political' discussion between the governor general and the royal family, and that some of the legal advice given by the Queen's private secretary, Martin Charteris, is 'scandalous'