The British Empire League was formed in London in 1894 in order to support the ideology of British imperialism and to promote loyalty to and the unity of the British Empire. It was particularly active in the British dominions of Australia and Canada in the early part of the twentieth century.
The League focused on the celebration of the birthday of Queen Victoria—24 May—as a patriotic holiday. In Australia, this was not only an observance of the holiday in schools, but was also a wider opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to Britain. Empire Day was officially adopted by the Reid government in 1905 and observed for more than fifty years.
In Australia, the League sponsored a monthly publication United Australia which featured on its cover Britannia and the motto "One people one destiny".