SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25092, 25 January 1947, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

PLANS FOR ROYAL PARTY COUNCIL OF STATE IN BRITAIN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 23.

“The constitutional’ arrangements to be made before the Royal party leaves for South Africa are occupying the attention of His Majesty,”-says Reuterte Court correspondent. “The King has summoned a Privy Council to Buckingham Palace on January 29. two days before he leaves London. The Council will hold a ‘clearing up’ meeting at which the King will approve various orders which must be carried out before he can issue letters patent under the Great Seal appointing the Councillors of State to whom he will entrust Royal powers during his absence. “The Duke of Gloucester will head four or five councillors. The others will be the next in* line of succession who are of age, the Princess Royal and her sons, Viscount Lascelles and the Hon. Gerald Lascelles and Princess Arthur of Connaught. “A skeleton staff will remain at Buckingham Palace in case the Duke, of Gloucester wishes to arrange any State functions there, but these will probably be held at Queen Mary’s residence, Marlborough House, because an amount of essential redecoration and repair work which was neglected during the war will be done at the palace while the Court is absent.’’ The Duke of Gloucester, GovernorGeneral of Australia, arrived at the London airport this afternoon, where a crowd of notabilities, newspaper representatives, movie men, photographers, and broadcasters was waiting. ‘ Wing Commander Russell Bell, captain of the Duke’s aeroplane, said that a remarkable feature of the flight from Australia was the perfect weather throughout. The total flying time was 57 hours. It is expected that resolutions extending good wishes to the King for his coming visit to South Africa will be moved in both Houses of Parliament next week. The King and Queen have accepted an invitation to a luncheon at the Guildhall on May 15, three days after they return from Spouth Africa.

KING’S FLIGHT AIRCRAFT INSPECTION BY ROYALTY '■ NEW ZEALANDER AS COMMANDER (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Jan. 23. When the King, the Queen,- and the Princesses inspected the Viking craft which will be used during their South African tour, Princess Margaret made a bee-line for the cockpit, where she sat in the pilot’s seat, and she asked Wing Commander E. W. Tacon, D. 5.0., D.F.C., of Napier, to explain the controls to her while plying him with a stream of questions. Wing Commander Tacon is commander of the King’s Flight. Meanwhile Their Majesties and Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by the Captain of the King’s Flight, Air Commodore E. H. Fielden, seemed more interested in the accommodation, the Queen and Princess Elizabeth being particularly attracted by the small kitchen or pantry which- has both water , heater and a refrigerator. Their

Majesties spent nearly two hours ’ inspecting the aircraft and talking to the crew. The Viking they saw was the one in which the King will fly. The* Queen will use another, which is similar in every respect. It is presumed that Princess Elizabeth will fly with the Queen and Princess Margaret with the King. Nothing had been spared to ensure the comfort of the Royal Family while flying in these Viking aircraft, which are an excellent example of the high quality of British workmanship. Normally, the cost of a Viking is about £49,000, but it is understood that the aircraft in the King’s Flight cost nearer £90,000 each. The Queen spent some time talking with the crew and she noted Wing Commander Tacon’s “New Zealand” tabs. She inquired when he had last been home. When Wing Commander Tacon said he hoped it might be possible to pay a visit after the tour was ended. Her Majesty remarked that she expected it could be arranged. “We are now all ready with the crews,” said Wing Commander Tacon, “and everyone has flown for 200 hours in a Viking. Our first aircraft took off to-day with the advance party of 16. They will fly to Cape Town via Malta, Cairo, Khartoum, Juba, Tabora (Lake Victoria), and Salisbury, taking about four days. I expect to be the last to leave England with the King’s aircraft and I will probably get away about February 1 or February 2. We have no idea yet of our flying schedule in South Africa.’’ ,

The King’s Flight comprises four aircraft, including one fitted as a workshop.