princess margaret trip to rhodesia

 

Of course the Queen is still head of the Commonwealth, but in South Africa’s case there was the intervening history of withdrawal from the Commonwealth and then readmission after 1994. The Royal Family did not cut short their South African sojourn but flood relief for Britain was a popular charity in South Africa. If you would like to post a comment and need instructions click here. News, photos, videos and full episode guide, The true story of Princess Margaret’s ‘forbidden love’ for Peter Townsend, What channel is Everton v Tottenham Premier League match on? They had two children together, Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. Despite the scandal of … By 1953, Townsend had divorced his wife and proposed to the 22-year-old Princess. The Princess explained: “I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. There was an election looming in 1948 and with hindsight, perhaps that Royal Visit was not such a smart political move. Gerald Smith in a report  for the Adelaide Advertiser 3rd April 1947 (an Australian digitized newspaper found on line)  - tells us of the anticipated visit of the Royal Family to Crown Mines on the 5th - and I was amused that the entire report was written in advance of the actual descent down the Crown Mines shaft to 8500 feet. Prince William and his wife Kate, as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two children, made a one week, intensely packed tour of Canada in September 2016. South Africa was a self-governing dominion but the King was the constitutional head of South Africa and one task was to open the 1947 session of the Union Parliament shortly after his arrival in Cape Town. The cover is secure and assured. The present Queen’s reign of over 60 years has been feted and celebrated, though such has been the change in political structures and climate that the diamond jubilee and the 90th birthday hardly mattered in South Africa. It must have been a hugely expensive project and a logistical nightmare. Churchill arranged for Townsend to be posted to Brussels, at least until Margaret got to 25 and could marry without the Queen’s consent. The Rhodesian Study Circle is a philatelic website for the areas of Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, British Central Africa and Nyasaland, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Princess Margaret was in America. Most white English South Africans were royalists, almost by birth if not by political conviction. The Church of England said no, rather emphatically. Royalty was a particularly British institution and while there was ready resonance with the English speaking component of  South Africa’s population, did royalty have the same meaning for Afrikaners, black Africans or South African Indians? Game reserves came  high on the agenda. In 1947 the Royal Family (King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth and his two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) undertook a leisurely three month journey (February to April) through their Southern African dominions (South Africa itself, Southern Rhodesia, Swaziland, Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate). Click here for details on how to donate. Many such souvenirs were produced in 1947; most popular and still to be found are the medallions (given to school children and dignitaries) and commemorative mugs (not too difficult to find either). The nationalists had very different ideas about social order, race and hierarchy and hence the coming of the apartheid state. The Economist in an article in May of 1947, reflecting on the significance of the Royal Visit in the context of “a divided  dominion” and the political as they saw it of the three big racial divides. Margaret and Armstrong-Jones departed for the U.S. for 20 days at the beginning of the month, to an already captivated U.S. public. Could homage to King and Queen that symbolised those ties in wartime, not be extended into the peace time era. The highest-wattage event of the trip, however, according to the PBS documentary Margaret: The Rebel Princess, was a dinner party hosted by Sharman Douglas at the Bistro Restaurant in Beverly Hills. Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe. Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) and Group Captain Peter Townsend (Ben Miles) ask the Queen's permission to marry, but Tommy Lascelles (Pip Torrens) and the Queen Mother (Victoria Hamilton)Queen Mother are against it. Get your gears turning with hundreds of puzzles, with new ones added each week - and enjoy a seven day free trial! At the time Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother were on a tour of Rhodesia; when Margaret returned, Townsend had gone. SV & SCU pan, Royal party mounting steps of memorial. Kick off time, live stream and latest team news, Peaky Blinders star Helen McCrory dies, aged 52. Does anyone have a copy of 'In Memoriam: Roll of Honour Imperial Forces Anglo-Boer War 1899' by Steve Watt? On this 1947 visit it carried a staff complement (officers and crew) of 1 975 men. The British Cabinet said they would refuse to approve the marriage, Winston Churchill hated the thought, and the newspapers – initially, at least – were against the “unthinkable” event. If anyone can provide me with a copy of the programme of the Johannesburg visit of the Royal family this would add greatly to this contribution. ® 50/50 Add-On and Cash Calendar are registered trademarks. She and her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, … This was the arrangement between 1938 and 1957 when Die Stem became the sole national anthem until 1994. It sweetened the atmosphere of South Africa. If for any reason none appear click here for some troubleshooting tips. Margaret was inclined to accept, but it was not that simple: under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, as an under-25-year-old she would need the monarch’s consent to the match. She is currently working on a couple of projects on Johannesburg architects and is researching South African architects, war cemeteries and memorials. For her it was a momentous year; a year of the great South African adventure, coming of age, then her engagement followed by marriage to Prince Philip. What we do not really know is how the scandal affected Margaret and Elizabeth’s relationship. The recent discovery in the cellar of a home in Saxonwold, Johannesburg of an old discoloured, brass plaque is a heritage opportunity and opens space for reviewing the motives and outcomes of the Royal Visit to South Africa in 1947. Canada too sent food parcels to Britain. In 1947 there was an aura of post war patriotic fervour. A newspaper gets wind of the story, and starts publishing articles about the relationship. There were all the many photo moments and there must be thousands of photographs of the entire vist. The queen addressed the new Parliament, following the 1994 all race election with universal franchise. In 1947 in late March following a severe icy winter, flooding on the Thames followed the thaw of ice sheets. RAF Group Captain Peter Townsend pictured in Brussels in 1955. So, what next for the star-crossed lovers? In 1965, Princess Margaret embarked on a three-week trip to the United States for a historic royal tour. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. These were called the Great Floods of 1947 and the flooding of the Thames was the worst 20th Century flood of the River Thames. Princess Margaret’s diamonds included a 4 ½ carat blue-white from De Beers. She’s pretty! Here is a strange addendum to my zoom in on the 1947 visit. The King on the other hand dressed for the occasion whether in uniform, business suit, robes of state or nifty knee length shorts for the safari moments. Click here for details on how to contribute. British boys sailing to Rhodesia, 1946. Princess Elizabeth inspecting graded diamonds. SV Queen Mother standing beside unveiled memorial. Her first foreign tour was before her accession when she accompanied her parents to the countries of Southern Africa in 1947. Margaret did indeed find out about her lover’s exile to the British Embassy in Brussels while on a tour of Rhodesia – the trip on which he had been meant to accompany her. The South African Railways published a substantial (red hardcover) souvenir book in anticipation of these Royal travels; complete with maps, colour plates (birds, flowers, wild life), and sepia toned photographs. Below is an impressive photo of the Royal Family with the crew. I gather that there must have been some changes in the programme as the official Railways programme allocated only 1 day, 2nd April, to all of Johannesburg, the East and the West Rand and the following day they were supposed to be in Pietersburg followed by a weekend in Pretoria. Sieh dir an, was Italino Patrizio (ipatrizio) auf Pinterest, der weltweit größten Sammlung von Ideen, entdeckt hat. ... with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attending instead. The itinerary was by White train and was hectic, with train station views of towns such as George, Oudtshoorn, Graaff-Reinet, Grahamstown, Umtata, Aliwal North. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Date: 03/08/1956 Tours of the British … There was a celebratory ball at the Johannesburg City Hall, with young women attired in gorgeous evening gowns forming a tableau to represent the Heart of Africa. By 1979, backstage conditions at the 120-year-old building had become "rather grotty" said the Princess' 30-year-old nephew, Prince Charles, and terribly cramped.… Mandela had become our “rainbow nation“ President. Cut to Rhodesia, known today as Zimbabwe. This affectionate official souvenir has been looked after. It must have been an endless succession of dinners, presentations and group displays. und Tochter von König Georg VI. Queen Mother is about to unveil the statue of Kingsley Fairbridge. CU … Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, celebrated her 21st  birthday (21st April, 1926) in South Africa. The Hotel’s landing stage was renamed in honour of the visit, becoming known as the King’s Landing Stage and Boat House. A study of that Royal visit offers some insights into the politics of the day, social customs and history. Princess Margaret with her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones in the happy early days, 1960. Prince Charles and Princess Anne join with Princess Margaret in a farewell wave to the Queen Mother, who was leaving for a trip to Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Principally it showed the physical possibility of a closer Union between the Dominions and England and one another. In turn too, the King carried a camera to photograph the game of the Kruger Park and whatever other moments took his eye. We are no longer monarchists, though we are once again part of the Commonwealth and the Queen is represented in South Africa by a High Commissioner and similarly a South African High Commissioner is the South African diplomatic representative in London. BOAC Comet arrives. Margaret did indeed find out about her lover’s exile to the British Embassy in Brussels while on a tour of Rhodesia – the trip on which he had been … As President of… As for Group Captain Townsend, he also remarried. She enjoyed a long career as an academic and in management at Wits University. The Royal Family and crew on board HMS Vanguard GV Rhodesian countryside. August 1930 auf Glamis Castle, Schottland;  9. It is thought that Smuts’ closeness to the establishment during and after the Second World War was very much a factor in his electoral defeat just over a year later in May 1948, when the United Party was defeated by Malan and the Afrikaner Nationalists rose to power ushering in the long dark years of apartheid. Princess Margaret received her land on Mustique as a wedding present and loved the home she built there more than any Palace. What was Smuts thinking? They saw the best of the country as well as some rather curious places – game reserves, wine farms, the Port Elizabeth Snake Park, the East London graving dock, clipping ostrich feathers in Oudshoorn, an official banquet in Pretoria, the award of an Honorary degree to Queen Elizabeth at UCT (towards the end of the visit – that colonial connection that featured quite prominently on the UCT history section of its website until recently), the vistas of Drakensberg at Mont aux Sources. Queen Mother and Princess Margaret come home from visit to Southern Rhodesia. BOAC Comet arrives. The journey to South Africa was by battle cruiser (the HMS Vanguard). Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother really did visit the country in the summer of 1953, leaving on June 30. Please Play Responsibly. His political responsibilities must have taken second place for many weeks when he was in attendance. At Baragwanath a red carpet was laid out and some rare photos from the Arnott collection show the informality and delight of those who were honoured. Let us know what is happening in your town or city. Queen Elizabeth is still queen of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and some 12 island nations but many of the former British empire dominions have seized independence. Queen Mother and Princess M... CUTS FOR STORY NUMBER 59399 - CU dignitaries of Southern Rhodesia awaiting arrival of royal party at airport. They were modest, lovable, so anxious to please, so eagerly pleased, that it was almost painful to watch them doing their duty, and another duty, and still another duty, and a further duty, and anything anyone considered a duty - more, indeed, than was necessary for duty. 1953 Queen Mother and Princess Margaret This Royal Tour was specifically scheduled to open the Rhodes Centenary Exhibition in Bulawayo, as well as the unveiling of the Fairbridge Memorial. Back in 1947 we were not an underdeveloped country but had the sources to send gifts and donations to struggling Britain. Pathe news reported on the Royal Visit and today you can find these adoring, patriotic news reels on You Tube. Towns prepared and printed  welcome programmes and agendas for receptions, and these are now most collectible items of royal memorabilia. Was Margaret’s U.S. trip considered a success? There must have been thousands of handshakes and platitudes exchanged that the people who met the King and Queen and the two princesses would remember the rest of their lives as “the day I met the Royal family”. Thanks! CUTS FOR STORY NUMBER 59399 - CU dignitaries of Southern Rhodesia awaiting arrival of royal party at airport. The past is indeed another country. Februar 2002 in London) war die jüngere Schwester der Königin Elisabeth II. It must have stretched and strained their bond to its limits as the older sister was forced to balance political concerns with her sister’s happiness – and yet, throughout their lives, the two remained close. The Royal Family and the Crew of the Vanguard. By then, the affair was already in full swing. African decolonization did not come until the 1960s. His wife, Isie Smuts did not accompany him or the Royal Family but they came on a visit to meet Ouma Smuts at Doornklooof. Townsend said that his love for Margaret began in August 1951, when the princess woke him from a nap after a … It was not a happy match, and eventually ended in divorce, which was finalised in 1978. But at the time it was seen as an opportunity to express good will and gratitude for the South African contribution to the Allied effort in the Second World War. Rhodesia was under international sanctions, and obtaining the materials to sustain the war was difficult, and sometimes impossible. Because it’s time for Margaret’s life to get a little crappy. It was a marathon endurance test in cheerful and gracious encounters with their African subjects; these were the moments of welcome, homage and delight. It also had two official national anthems, one was God Save the King while the other was Die Stem (written by the poet C. J. Langenhoven in 1918 and was set to music by the Reverend Marthinus Lourens de Villiers in 1921). He escorted the Royal family up Table Mountain and to the Royal Natal National Park. The Union government’s 21st birthday gift to Princess Elizabeth were 87 more diamonds suitable for setting in a necklace – 21 major stones  totalling  71.31carats. Small girls curtseyed and presented bouquets of flowers (or in the case of Mary Oppenheimer a gift of diamonds from Kimberley was given). Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother really did visit the country in the summer of 1953, leaving on June 30. The Royal Tour of South Africa was  the first post war peace time celebration of empire and an African perambulation. The Old Court House - A Link with Early Durban, Ravi Lalla - pillar to post to prosperity in Jeppestown, Help get this book on Marco Zanuso Architecture in South Africa published, Tour of Historical Onderberg - 24 April 2021, Dean Allen Matjiesfontein Tours - 20 or 25 April 2021. Souvenir book on the Royal Tour of Rhodesia A souvenir of the Royal Visit to Southern Rhodesia in April 1947. Comments will load below. I have followed up on the programme for 5th April 1947. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, CI, GCVO, CD (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II.. She spent much of her childhood with her parents and sister. SV school girls cheering. Published: Wednesday, 24th May 2017 at 2:00 pm. They wore light colours, pastel shades, beautiful hats (the Queen's were often adorned with those floating ostrich feathers from Oudshoorn) long white gloves, stylist forties peep toe shoes, neat handbags and of course magnificent jewellery. It was only a 6 day speedy tour of the main centres. Her decision not to marry Captain Townsend was announced on 31 October. … It was a well recorded visit with everyone armed with Brownie Box cameras lining the city streets to catch a glimpse of imperial grandeur. It is certain that Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and Princess Margaret fell in love with the country for they returned at their request. In 1999 the Queen returned to South Africa for the 16th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting that took place in Durban. LV Queen Mother and Princess Margaret arriving by car at Fairbridge Memorial. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Radio Times privacy policy. Royal Family with the crew of the HMS Vanguard via collectingkgvi.wordpress com.png. On Monday, Oct. 15, 1979, Princess Margaret (1926-2001) departed Chicago and arrived in Houston, the second stop on her 1979 U.S. tour.She was in America to raise £4,000 in funds for the renovation of London’s Royal Opera House at Covent Garden.As far as she could tell, things were going swimmingly. This affectionate official souvenir has been looked after. She’s deliriously in love with Peter, and totally looking forward to this trip to Rhodesia she’s bringing him along on. The Zoo Lake Sports Club’s website shows that it was renovated some years ago and it was possibly during that renovation that the plaque was discarded. Her interests cover Africana, Johannesburg history, history, art history, travel, business and banking histories. She’s so happy for most of this episode! At Standerton there was an open air banquet and a display of Volkspiele dancing (they were there from 12h45 to 15h30!). It has somegeneral user and storage wear about the edges and the spine. Plus the dreaded paparazzi look for the unguarded moments. She … The trip involved 10 000 miles of travel including 4920 miles by rail … Princess Margaret was in America. Soldiers who volunteered, enlisted and fought with determination in North Africa and in Italy were now being thanked for their contribution. Rediscovering the 1947 Royal Visit to South Africa, HMS Vanguard in front of Table Mountain.png, Commemorative Medallion from 1947 Royal Visit.png, Royal Family visiting Ouma Smuts in 1947.png, Series of stamps for the 1947 Royal Visit.png, Royal Natal National Park; today the hotel stands in ruins, Royal Natal National Park Hotel - Heritage Portal - June 2014 - 1.jpg, Honourary Doctorate for Queen at UCT 1947.png, Laying down the Red Carpet for the Royal Family at Baragwanath Military Hospital 1947.png, Princess Elizabeth inspecting diamonds in Kimberley - Royal Visit 1947.png, My Mission School Memories - Inanda Seminary, Unpacking the complexity behind the decision to demolish the Anton Van Wouw House, A Short History of the Robben Island Garrison Church, The first re-discovery of gold in the Transvaal, Visit this monumental mosaic celebrating Johannesburg, Amazing places to view the Joburg skyline. “But mindful of the Church’s teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others. The Royal family visited the Turfontein Race Course to see the running of the Kings Cup. Margaret did indeed find out about her lover’s exile to the British Embassy in Brussels while on a tour of Rhodesia – the trip on which he had been meant to accompany her. When the Queen tries to convince Margaret, he sister says, "If i do this for you, will you promise me that this banishment wont start until after our trip to Rhodesia… The Mine visit was recorded as a private visit added on to the itinery. Princess Margaret’s only daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto, was born on May 1, 1964 and at the time was seventh in line to the throne – although she is 24th today. There was more Volkspiele dancing in Pietersburg. Another island was also named after Princess Margaret. The Thelma Gutsche book A Very Smart Medal also shows the visit of the Royal Family to the Rand Easter Show, and there is also footage on a Pathe news clip. In retrospect one can argue that it was a significant factor in costing Smuts and the United Party the 1948 election. British Pathé Selected Originals - Royal Rhodesian Visit AKA Queen Mother In Rhodesia (1953) Royal Natal National Park Hotel in ruins (The Heritage Portal). Prime Minister Smuts took huge pride and pleasure being the gallant personal host of the Royal Family. This discovery has led me to delve into records of the 1947 Royal Visit. Since then, she has toured the Commonwealth of Nations widely. Cut to Rhodesia, known today as Zimbabwe. Millin was at that time a popular thinking author, an early admirer and biographer of Smuts. She has visited all member states except Cameroon and Rwanda. Kathy is a member of the online book community the Library thing and recommends this cataloging website and worldwide network as a book lover's haven. Here came four Royal people from England - and they were not at all like the King's grandfather with his goodwill tours in Paris. This put the Queen in a really, really tricky situation, so she did what any true procrastinator does: she put things off and asked her sister to wait a bit. On Monday, Oct. 15, 1979, Princess Margaret (1926-2001) departed Chicago and arrived in Houston, the second stop on her 1979 U.S. tour.She was in America to raise £4,000 in funds for the renovation of London’s Royal Opera House at Covent Garden.As far as she could tell, things were going swimmingly. Gandhi in India supported the position. There’s an interesting article by Sarah Gertrude Millin (The Spectator, 19th June 1947). Poor Margaret. The reactions of the Cabinet, the way it divided and scandalised the press: all this comes directly from real life. Ben Miles as Group Captain Townsend and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret in The Crown. I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend.”, In his autobiography, Time and Chance, Group Captain Townsend wrote: “I simply hadn’t the weight, I knew it, to counterbalance all she would have lost.”, Princess Margaret pictured on 17 October 1955. The brass plaque Sports Club visit reminds us that there were the large and the small occasions and events. Margaret knew Townsend wouldn't be there when she returned, and according to the Shawcross bio of the Queen Mum, the press reported that Margaret was "unsmiling and sullen" during the trip. In 1947 South Africa had two official languages, English and Afrikaans. During his Belgium posting he met a local, 20-year-old Marie-Luce Jamagne, and tied the knot with her in 1959. ™ Princess Margaret Home Lottery is a trademark. Many photos are submitted by heritage enthusiasts across the country. The glamour factor was there too; the queen and her daughters must have required an entire train coach to convey their wardrobe. Thousands flocked to the railway stations along the route for the brief whistlestop halts; these were the speedy moments for local dignitaries  and guards of honour to be presented to royalty or to  stand to attention for inspection. The JHF has arranged for the professional restoration of the plaque by two of its members; it has been rebuffed and black enamel lettering repainted. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "southernrhodesia" Flickr tag. He later remarried to Lucy Lindsay-Hogg. Souvenir book on the Royal Tour of Rhodesia A souvenir of the Royal Visit to Southern Rhodesia in April 1947. On October 11, 1979, Princess Margaret (1926-2001) and her entourage landed in Chicago to begin her tour of America to raise funds for the renovation of the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London. und Königin Elisabeth. Margaret knew Townsend wouldn't be there when she returned, and according to the Shawcross bio of the Queen Mum, the press reported that Margaret was "unsmiling and sullen" during the trip. The paparazzi had not yet come of age but official photographers, newsreel cameramen and journalists did dutiful duty. We can argue that hereditary kingship was an essential glue that held the British Commonwealth and empire together. Townsend (Ben Miles) was appointed Comptroller of her mother’s household and the two became very… close. That gesture was enough to break the biggest royal scandal since the Abdication Crisis. Here was an opportunity to express patriotic feeling and monarchical fervour. The Royal Family at Doornkloof in 1947, visiting Ouma Smuts. Please do not use these photos without permission from the copyright holder. She came for exactly a week between 9–15 November. South Africa went to great lengths to commemorate the visit in the medallions mentioned above as well as in special issue stamps. In 1947 the Royal Family (King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth and his two daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) undertook a leisurely three-month journey (February to April) through their Southern African dominions (South Africa itself, Southern Rhodesia, Swaziland, Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate). She is an enthusiastic book person and has built her own somewhat eclectic book collection over 40 years. It was an empire transitioning towards independence in the wake of the Second World War but with a future less clear at the time. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon then hopped on a plane to Arizona, where they spent four days, visiting a friend whose father, Lewis W. Douglas, was the former Ambassador to … Kathy Munro is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand. A period drama just wouldn’t work without an illicit romance to keep viewers entertained, and The Crown certainly delivers. There was a ceremony at the Cenotaph with the King unveiling an inscription to the fallen soldiers of World War II. The tour was originally scheduled for Princess Elizabeth, but due to the King George VI’s death in February 1952 schedules were rearranged, with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attending instead. What of this Royal Visit? She wrote: What, then, did the visit achieve? READERS: Before reading this post, please read Parts One and Two of Princess Margaret's Trip to America, 1979. Reported in the Chicago Daily Tribune 19 April 1947 Princess Elizabeth was presented with a 6 carat perfect blue and white diamond and Princess Margaret received a 4.5 carat stone gift from the Oppenheimers (presented by Mary Oppenheimer). The fascinating question is whether this Royal visit had negative consequences for South Africa and indeed there was some slippage between the issue of an invitation and the grand arrival in Cape Town. What did the Royal visit achieve? It is interesting that Indian South African political opinion was split and the Natal Indian Congress boycotted the Royal visit in the context of discrimination against “Asiatics” at that date. HMS Vanguard in front of Table Mountain (via @tablemountainca). She researches and writes on historical architecture and heritage matters. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (geboren als Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret Rose of York, zeitweise HRH The Princess Margaret), CI, GCVO, aus dem Haus Windsor (* 21. Queen Elizabeth II became Head of the Commonwealth upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. South Africa’s Coat of Arms in 1947 reflecting the four provinces: Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Visit to the Kimberley Diamond Mines – 18th April Friday. Who better to make that transition than a modest second son king with a stammer and his slightly plump but feisty Scottish queen. They were a model King and Queen for a democratic age but with an empire trailing behind. Thabo Mbeki was the President. Already have an account with us? The Economist article pontificated then as much as it does today, warning that a move towards the nationalists (it was already seen that the election could be won by Malan) could sacrifice South Africa’s international stature and status. I think the answer is because General Jan Smuts, who as Prime Minister extended the invitation, seemingly wanted to consolidate ties between South Africa and Britain. There were 480 guests at the farewell State luncheon at the City Hall. The cause was the London's Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, a centerpiece of world opera and ballet. The plaque commemorates the visit of the Royal Family to the Zoo Lake Sports Grounds on 5th April 1947. As a ruling monarch the Queen has surpassed the reign of her great grandmother, Queen Victoria. He will be away for three weeks. Looking back on the specifics of the Royal Visit of 1947 reminds us, how much South Africa has changed in 60 years.