 This procedure was necessary as Prince Charles, not being an Australian citizen, would not otherwise have qualified for a substantive knighthood and would have been eligible only for an honorary award.Following the 1983 election, Prime Minister Bob Hawke recommended the abolition of the knight and dame grades.On 3 March 1986, the Monarch co-signed Letters Patent revoking the categories of knight and dame – existing knights and dames were not affected by this change.