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Ms Bryce is known to be chic and immaculately coiffed - her ice cream-coloured outfits are coordinated from her earrings down - and she is said to take pride in the fact that she does not own a pair of jeans.

But the velvet glove of her renowned charm is said to encase an iron fist. Her detractors say that behind the smile is a ruthless, controlling woman. The fist was raised recently when, even before she was sworn in as Governor General, she unceremoniously dumped the most senior adviser at Government House, telling him he would not have a job when she started hers.

Malcolm Hazell, who has been official secretary at Yarralumla since 2003, was said to be distraught when told he was to be replaced and outgoing Governor General, Major General Jeffrey, was privately "livid."

The move has given rise to fears among some that, after today's pomp and ceremony, she will instigate a night of the long knives, getting rid of loyal staff and replacing them with her own favourites.

The fears may have some basis, say critics who point to the exodus of personnel that marked her years as Queensland Governor. When she arrived at Brisbane's Government House in 2003, at least eight senior staff - including the executive officer, head chef, house manager and gardener - left after she clashed with them over issues from the colour of flowers in the garden to a lack of wardrobe space.

Famously, she was warned against using the official residence to host her son Rupert's wedding reception for 120 people in 2005. Executive officer Steven Blinkhorn, who gave this advice, took redundancy shortly afterwards. The party went ahead in a giant marquee.

"She's a control freak. She's all sweet and understanding in public, but in private it was a whole different ball game," one disgruntled former staff member told The Australian newspaper.

Despite the stories, however, Ms Bryce remains hugely popular among politicans and particularly among Australian women who point to her many achievements over the decades.

While her appointment will make the Governor General's role more visible, few believe that she will make any real political impact, sticking instead to its ceremonial duties.

But her supporters insist there could not be a better person representing the Queen in Australia.

Some have gone even further in their effusiveness. Dale Spender, a feminist scholar who was a neighbour of Ms Bryce in Brisbane 20 years ago, said: "She was born to it. I reckon if there was a contest between the Queen and Quentin Bryce, Quentin would win."

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