Philip Benwell started his working life as a tea planter and then became involved in trading and later in merchant banking.  He was honoured with the Order of the British Empire (Membership Grade) in 1976.

In 1993, with the support of the late Dame Pattie Menzies, he coordinated the activities of the Queen Elizabeth Gate Appeal in Australia raising what is understood to be the largest contribution from any Commonwealth country.

He was then asked to take over the leadership of the Australian Monarchist League in Australia and became its first National Chairman and developed the organisation into a   major participant in the debate on Australia’s Constitutional Monarchy.  His involvement in League activities over the past ten years has been on a full time and totally voluntary basis and now leaves no time for business whatsoever resulting in the League becoming the most active organisation promoting the role of the Constitutional Monarchy and in defending The Crown against attack.

The successes of the Australian Monarchist League under Benwell's chairmanship are too numerous to mention,  but they include persuading Toyota to drop an advertising campaign and the Commonwealth Bank to re-name a marketing initiative.  The League is also credited with the success of the Queen's Stamps,  the re-printing of The Queen's Five Dollar Note and the distribution of prints of The Queen as well as the—now common—celebrations of The Queen's personal birthday by Loyal and religious organisations.

Philip Benwell was accorded the distinct honour of addressing both the Conservative Constitution Committee and the Cross Benches of the House of Lords on the Constitutional Referendum Australia on a visit to Great Britain in 1999.  He is a popular speaker in Australia and internationally and has been a main speaker at several ‘Sovereignty’ rallies at Trafalgar Square in London and has also spoken on many occasions to meetings in the House of Lords.

In 2003,  his book, entitled “In Defence of Australia's Constitutional Monarchy”,  was published in the United States of America and has sold well,  particularly in the USA, Canada and the UK as a political science text book for use in Universities and schools.

In a message sent to the official Launch of the book in Parliament House, Sydney,  Dr Brendan Nelson MP,  Australian Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training stated:  “I have read with great interest Philip’s book and highly commend it to all. ‘In Defence of Australia's Constitutional Monarchy’ is undoubtedly an invaluable resource to anyone wanting to know more about this important topic and it is a book that should be in every school and higher education facility in Australia. 

Philip articulately outlines the case for retaining Australia's Constitutional Monarchy and effectively debunks many of the arguments raised by those who would seek to make Australia a republic.  I commend the book to you and congratulate Philip on a work well done.”

The following are excerpts from reviews of ‘In Defence of Australia’s Constitutional Monarchy’:

Lord Molyneaux of Killead:

“Philip Benwell is renowned not only in Australia but throughout the Commonwealth for his dedication to sound governance.  His first hand experience of structures in most nations of the World,  where his judgment is widely respected,  has led to his advice being widely sought in democracies great and small.”

“Benwell’s vision is large. He looks a long way back and forwards. He is not afraid to be controversial.  Behind his tightly argued constitutional theorising lies a courageous willingness to speak up for the old-fashioned values. He points out how well the Queen has personally embodied those values while the whole nature of the Australian Crown reinforces them.