QueenElizabeth II and her husband,Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, toured New Zealand from 23 December 1953 to 30 January 1954. This was the first visit to New Zealand by its reigning monarch. It occurred six months afterElizabeth II's coronation and was part of her six-month tour of theCommonwealth. Elizabeth and Philip visited 46 towns or cities and travelled over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) by car, 1,200 km (750 mi) by aeroplane and 960 km (600 mi) by train. According to theMinistry for Culture and Heritage, an estimated three out of every four New Zealanders saw the royal couple during their tour.
This was the first time thata reigning monarch had visited New Zealand. An itinerary had previously been made for a visit byGeorge VI in 1949, but it was cancelled due to illness.[1] The 1953–1954 royal tour occurred six months afterElizabeth II's coronation[2] and was part of her six month tour of theCommonwealth.[3] The Queen later visited New Zealand eight other times, the next being in 1963 and the last being in 2002.[2]
.jpg)
In the morning of 23 December 1953,SSGothic arrived inAuckland with the Queen and Prince Philip aboard. The two were officially welcomed in a civic reception atAuckland Town Hall. After noon atGovernment House in Auckland, a presentation was made about the tour and press parties were held.[4] That day she shook approximately 300 hands.[2]
In the morning of 24 December there was a visit toAuckland Hospital and a youth gathering atAuckland Domain. After noon she presented herQueen's Colour to theRoyal New Zealand Navy atDevonport Naval Base, and there was a garden reception at Government House.[5][4] At 10.21 pm theTangiwai disaster occurred, New Zealand's deadliest railway accident that killed 151 people.[2]
In the morning of 25 December, Christmas, a divine service was held atSt Mary's Cathedral in Auckland. In the afternoon the Queen delivered herChristmas message[4] from Government House.[6] She spoke of her trip so far and what she hoped to learn and accomplish from the tour. The Queen referred to the Crown as a "personal and loving bond" between herself and her people and spoke of feeling at home in Auckland despite its distance from London. She spoke of theCommonwealth as a "fellowship" which bears no resemblance to the empires of the past and in which Britain is but an equal partner. She finished the broadcast with a note of sympathy to those affected by the Tangiwai disaster the night before.[7][8] This was the only time that Elizabeth II spent Christmas outside of the UK.[9]
On 26 December the Queen and Prince Philip watched thoroughbred races at theAuckland Racing Club. In the evening a Royal Cinema Performance was held atSt James Theatre.[4] The building'sfacade andvestibule underwent renovation for the royal couple's visit.[10][11][12]
On 27 December In the morning a divine service was held at St Mary's Cathedral. The royal couple spent the day relaxing.[4][2]
In the morning of 28 December aPresentation of Colours was held atWhenuapai Airbase. An aeroplane trip was made toKaikohe and in the afternoon a car trip was made toWaitangi where a ceremony was held,[4] in view of approximately 5,000 spectators. The Queen wore akiwi feather cloak which led to some criticism from some Māori saying that it was against tradition.National MinisterErnest Corbett andHone Heke Rankin ofNgāpuhi each delivered a welcoming speech. Rankin went off script and requested that the Queen and Duke visit theMāori King'smarae atTūrangawaewae. The itinerary originally did not have a visit to Waitangi, but it was later added after Māori criticised its absence and a letter was written toBuckingham Palace suggesting that a visit be held there. Afternoon tea was later held atTreaty House[13] and a civic reception was held atWhangārei.[4]
In the morning of 29 December the royal couple was transported by car from Whangārei toWarkworth, where a public welcoming was held. In the afternoon the royals travelled toWenderholm, by car, where they had a picnic. An investiture was held atAuckland Town Hall.[4][14]
In the morning of 30 December the royal couple travelled by car toPukekohe, where a public welcoming occurred.[4] They also visitedTūrangawaewae.[13]
In the afternoon of 30 December, they royal couple travelled to Alton Lodge inTe Kauwhata, Waikato, where they had lunch. They later travelled toHuntly, where they had a public welcoming. They then went toTūrangawaewae andNgāruawāhia to visit thepā, andHamilton, where they had a civic dinner and attended a "youth fiesta".[4]
In the morning of 31 December, a civic reception and agricultural display atClaudelands Show Grounds in Hamilton was attended. A public welcoming occurred inTe Kūiti after they had travelled there by car. Prince Philip travelled by air toWellington to attend a funeral for the victims of theTangiwai disaster that had happened a week earlier. Later, the two went to theWaitomo Caves and visitedthe glowworm cave and Aranui Cave.[4] They stayed the night atWaitomo Caves Hotel.[2]
_(17843185594).jpg)
In the morning of 1 January the two travelled by car toTe Awamutu where a public welcoming was held, andCambridge, where another public welcoming was held as well as a civic luncheon. In the afternoon they visitedKarāpiro Power Station. They later travelled by car toTīrau,[4] which had a crowd of 10,000 people despite the town having a population of only 600.[15]
The royal couple travelled to Moose Lodge atLake Rotoiti on 1 January.[4]
In the morning of 2 January a civic reception and luncheon was held inRotorua. In the afternoon a Māori reception was held atArawa Park, also in Rotorua.[4]
In the morning of 3 January a divine service was held at St John’s Presbyterian Church in Rotorua. In the afternoon the royal couple visited theWhakarewarewa model village and viewed the thermal activity in the area.[4] That day the queen became the first woman to speak atTe Arawa Marae in Rotorua.[2]
The days 4 and 5 January were spent relaxing at Moose Lodge atLake Rotoiti. The royal couple had no official engagements.[4][2]
.jpg)
On 6 January the royal couple travelled by car toGisborne Airport, where a civic reception was held.[2][4] They then travelled by air toNapier, where a civic reception was held. Prince Philip met former Hawke's Bay naval officers.[2][4]
In the morning of 7 January the two travelled by car toHastings, where they were given a public welcoming and a tour of theWattie's cannery by the company's founderJames Wattie.[2][4] In the afternoon they travelled by train toPalmerston North with stops atWaipawa,Waipukurau,Dannevirke andWoodville along the way. At each of these towns they had a public welcoming. In Palmerston North, a civic reception and dinner was held.[4]
On 8 January they travelled by train toFeilding,Marton,Whanganui,Patea,Hāwera,Stratford andNew Plymouth.[2][4]
On 9 January they toured the dairy factory inBell Block in the morning and had a civic reception atPukekura Park near New Plymouth.[4]
In the afternoon of 9 January the royal couple travelled by aeroplane toParaparaumu Airport and then by car toWellington.[4]Wellington Airport was non-operational so they flew to Paraparaumu instead.[16]
On 10 January they attended a divine service was at theWellington Cathedral of St Paul[4] and rehearsed for the upcoming opening ofParliament.[2]
On 11 January, in the morning, they attended a civic reception atWellington Town Hall and visited theNational War Memorial, where they laid a wreath. In the afternoon the two attended a state luncheon atParliament House, toured theFord car assembly plant inLower Hutt as well as St James' Church. Later they attended a reception for the heads of diplomatic missions atGovernment House.[4]
On 12 January they attended a children's gathering atAthletic Park, which had approximately 36,000 children and their parents.[2] In the afternoon,[4] the Queen opened aspecial session ofParliament, wearingher coronation gown, theOrder of the Garter, a tiara and an ermine stole. The session lasted for only seven minutes, the shortest in New Zealand's history.[2] The royal couple later attended a reception for members of Parliament and their wives atParliament House and an investiture atWellington Town Hall.[4]
In the morning of 13 January, the Queen laid thefoundation stone of theWellington Cathedral of St Paul.[2][4] She later attended a meeting of the Privy Council and Executive Council. In the afternoon, Prince Philip attended a luncheon with several scientific organisations.[4]
On 14 January they spent the day at theTrentham Racecourse inUpper Hutt to watch theWellington Cup.[4]
.jpg)
On 15 January the royal couple travelled by train toMasterton, where a civic reception was held, and by car to Wellington, throughCarterton,Greytown,Featherston and Upper Hutt.[4]
In the morning of 16 January, the two travelled by car toParaparaumu Airport, by aeroplane toRNZAF Base Woodbourne, in the northernSouth Island, and then by car toBlenheim, where a public welcoming was held. In the afternoon they travelled by car toWoodbourne and by aeroplane toNelson, where a civic reception was held.[4] Approximately 5,000 children gathered inTrafalgar Park to see the royals.[2]
.jpg)
In the morning of 17 January the couple participated in a divine service atChrist Church Cathedral in Nelson. In the afternoon they travelled by aeroplane toWestport, where there was a public welcoming, andHokitika. They then travelled by car toGreymouth.[4]
In of 18 January the morning the two attended a civic reception in Greymouth and then travelled by train throughOtira toDarfield, where they were given a public welcoming. They then travelled by train toChristchurch.[4]
In the morning of 19 January the royal couple attendedd a civic reception at Christchurch'sCathedral Square and the royal couple visitedChristchurch Hospital. In the afternoon they partook in a ceremonial drive and visited the Disabled Servicemen’s Vocational Training Centre.[4] They also visitedChrist Church Cathedral, where the Queen spoke; her address was watched by 1,200 people inside the building. Five thousand people listened to what was happening outside by a public address system.[2]
In the morning of 20 January the royal couple toured theLane Walker Rudkin clothing factory. In the afternoon Prince Philip spoke to and had a luncheon with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The royal couple also attended an investiture at theCivic Theatre and a civic garden party.[4]
On 21 January the royal couple went to theAddington Raceway.[4]
On 22 January the two travelled by car toBurnham Military Camp as well as toAshburton, where a public welcoming was held. They also travelled toLongbeach[4] where they relaxed for the weekend (23–24 January).[4]
On 23 January Prince Philip visited Winchmore Irrigation Research Station.[4]
In the morning of 24 January the royal couple attended a divine service in Longbeach.[4] In the morning of 25 January the Queen and Prince Philip travelled by car toTimaru, where a civic reception was held.[4]
In the afternoon of 25 January they travelled by train toOamaru andPalmerston, where a public welcoming was held at both places. They later travelled by train toDunedin.[4]
In the morning of 26 January the royal couple attended a civic reception atDunedin Town Hall. In the afternoon they went toCarisbrook stadium to watch sport,[4] along with 33,000 spectators.Yvette Williams achieved a record-breakinglong jump of 6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in) but it was afoul.[2]
.jpg)
In the morning of 27 January the Queen and Duke visited Ross and Glendinning’s Roslyn Woollen Mills. In the afternoon the Queen travelled to theKaritane hospital in Dunedin and Prince Philip met sportsmen[4] including Colin Todd and Brian Wilkins, who were members of aHimalayan expedition. A reception was later held at an art gallery.[2]
On 28 January the royal couple travelled by car toMilton andBalclutha. Public welcomings occurred at both of these places.[4]
On 28 January the two travelled toGore andInvercargill.[4]
In the morning of 29 January the Queen and Duke attended a civic reception atQueens Park in Invercargill.[4][2] In the afternoon they went to an agricultural show and a "Caledonian Sports Meeting".[4] At night the Queen delivered a farewell speech that was broadcast throughout the country.[2]
On 30 January the royal couple travelled to car toBluff, where farewells were made. They then boardedSSGothic to leave the country.[4]
On 31 January SSGothic visitedMilford Sound. This was not part of the schedule.[4]
The Queen and Duke visited 46 of the nation's towns or cities. According to theMinistry for Culture and Heritage, approximately three out of every four New Zealanders saw the royal couple on tour.[15] Overall, the royal couple travelled over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) by car, 1,200 km (750 mi) by aeroplane and 960 km (600 mi) by train.[2]
This was the longest tour Elizabeth II ever made of New Zealand. In this tour she spent 39 days in the country. Throughout her life she spent a total of 147 days in New Zealand, across 10 visits.[9]
.jpg)
A medal commemorating the tour was given to 380,000 school children.[17] On one side it says "ELIZABETH II ROYAL VISIT 1953–1954" with theNew Zealand coat of arms. On the other side is a portrait of the Queen.[18] All of the country's school children were also provided funding to travel by bus to see the royal couple.[17]
Twopostage stamps were made to commemorate the tour. One had both the Queen and the Duke and another had just the Queen.[19]
The1954 New Zealand Royal Visit Honours, appointments to theRoyal Victorian Order andRoyal Victorian Medal, were announced between 15 January and 29 January 1954.[20][21][22]
