A young Australian man has been charged with exposing himself and being a public nuisance as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II passed by in Brisbane, police said today.

Tens of thousands of people turned out to see the visiting monarch as she toured the Queensland capital, her first visit since the state was hit by devastating floods which killed more than 30 people in January.

But among the crowd was one man who allegedly exposed himself.

"A 22-year-old man has been charged with wilful exposure and public nuisance," a Queensland Police spokeswoman told AFP, adding that it was "in the vicinity of the procession."

ABC News reported that the man allegedly flashed his buttocks at the queen.

He will appear in court later this month.

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

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