ArchivesACT has revisited records related to the first royal visit to Canberra of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh as its Find of the Month for May.
The Archives said the couple’s 1954 visit to Australia was the first made by a reigning monarch.
“Following the passing of Prince Philip, we thought it would be timely to reflect on this previous article and to highlight other records documenting some of his subsequent visits to Canberra,” the Archives said.
“During their the first meeting of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council following the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, chairman, Arthur Shakespeare, proposed an ‘Address of Loyalty’ to Queen Elizabeth II,” it said.
“After the motion was enthusiastically carried, the message that expressed the ‘humble duty and loyalty to the throne and the person of your Majesty’ from the citizens of the Australian Capital city, was printed and forwarded to Buckingham Palace via the office of the Governor General.”
Archives said the Address was signed 22 June 1953, and assured the Queen and His Royal Highness of a ‘most hearty welcome to Canberra’ during their anticipated visit the following year.
It said the royal couple’s program of events in Canberra began on 13 February 1954.
“Following their arrival, they were given a ‘citizen’s reception’ that included a guard of honour at City Hill,” it said.
“They then left for Government House for a well-earned rest, and the following day was free of any public activities; the next three days however were full of engagements that included the official opening of Parliament, a visit to Manuka Oval to view a school children’s display and meeting with ex-servicemen and women on the lawns of Parliament House.”
ArchivesACT said the Parks and Gardens Section of the Department of Interior had an especially hard job during the tour, having to ensure that garden beds were colourful and lawns in good condition at the end of a dry hot summer.
It said Prince Philip made several tours to Australia without the company of the Queen, he was the royal representative for the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 and visited again to open the Empire Games in Perth in 1962.
ArchivesACT’s Find of the Month for May can be accessed at this PS News link.
