ROYAL VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26648, 6 February 1952, Page 8

ROYAL VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND

Sir Norman Gwatkin Gives Details DAKOTA AIRCRAFT TO BE USED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 5. Dakota aircraft will be used in New Zealand during stages of the Royal tour, and Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh will fly from Gisborne to Waharoa, probably from Paraparaumu to Bell Block, and from Bell Block to Palmerston North. This was announced to-day by Sir Norman Gwatkin. Assistant Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlan's Office, who arrived in Wellington yesterday to make a rapid survey of the itinerary the Royal visitors will follow in May. Sir Norman Gwatkin said it was definite that Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh would return home in the Gothic. They would not fly back, as had earlier been reported from London. “The King wanted Princess Elizabeth to carry out the itinerary he and the Queen would have followed had they been able to come out here.” said Sir Norman Gwatkin, discussing the itinerary. “It has been possible to make some small adjustments, but I don’t think that at this stage there is likely to be any further change in the programme. There does come a time when you've got to say stop. “A tour for them is much more of a strain than you think. You and I, if we have a cold or a headache, can go to bed. But they can’t. They’ve got to be on the job. They like a very busy public life, and it amounts to much more than an eight-hour day for them. What they want to do comes number two on the list. What they ought to do comes first.” Princess Elizabeth’s correct title, said Sir Norman Gwatkin, is "Her Royal Highness, the Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.” If people were presented to either the Princess or the Duke, they would say “Ma’am” or “Your Royal Highness,” or “Sir,” or “Your Royal Highness.” “Ma’am is much easier and so is Sir,” Sir Norman Gwatkin advised. “No Strict Dress Rules” He said that no strict dress rules would be observed on the tour. “But that doesn’t mean come in shorts and sandals, or a pair of old slacks,” he said. “People naturally will wear their best. It is an invariable rule that no one is excluded from meeting the Royal family if they haven't got the proper dress.” Sir Norman Gwatkin said that the Duke of Edinburgh was a good sportsman, and very interested in mechanics "and that sort of thing.” He added: “He’s a sound, proper chap.” The Duke of Edinburgh liked to play squash, but he would not have much opportunity for that during the tour. Both Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh liked racing. “They will attend a race meeting at Auckland and another at Wellington,” said Sir Norman Gwatkin. , “The Princess likes to ride and stalk, but she doesn’t play much golf,” he said. “She swims, but I hope she’ll only have to swim voluntarily while she’s here.”

When it was suggested that they might enjoy Rotorua’s hot pools, he was a little critical of the appearance of some. “But be careful what you say about that, won’t you,” he requested.

Discussing presents to the Royal visitors. Sir Norman Gwatkin said that they would accept presents from communities “and that sort of thing, but they won’t accept presents from individuals.” He added “You see, you've got 1.800,000 people here, and it would be embarrassing for them if everyone decided to give them a present. And you don’t want to encourage it.” Asked whether Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh would accept presents for their children, Sir Norman Gwatkin said: "Well, there’s nothing to stop a little girl wanting to send something to Princess Anne or a boy to send something to Prince Charles—but if they do they’ll need another ship.” Letters to Visitors Replying to a questioner who sought guidance on the matter of writing to Princess Elizabeth or the Duke of Edinburgh. Sir Norman Gwatkin said that there was nothing to stop anyone writing to any members of the Royal Family. The King received a mail of about 800 such letters a day, and he *^o u 2ht the Princess received about *OO. Replies to those letters depended on circumstances.

“Here it’s unlikely they will be able to arrange for replies, because everything will be so much on the move,” he said. Private secretaries and ladies-in-waiting dealt with the Princess’s mail.

A woman reporter asked Sir Norman Gwatkin what dress would be required by those invited to join the Royal party at a race meeting. “Oh, well. I’ve been told that the GovernorGeneral wears a bowler hat. so I’ve bought mine,’’ he said. Princess Elizabeth would bring two complete wardrobes with her during her overseas tour. Shell need them for the hot and cold climates she’ll go through.” he said.

Sir Norman Gwatkin said he did not th®! either Princess Elizabeth or the Duke of Edinburgh would be likely to make any private purchases in New Zealand, but they had both expressed a desire to taste New Zealand whitebait and toheroa soup 15 ink they ’ n like mutton birds, he added. He recounted an expenence of his own with a mutton bird. He did not like it, he said, and could not dispose of it: in fact, he could not bite it.

Sir Norman Gwatkin said that the Royal visitors wanted to see as many people as they could and the way people Worked.

They would not have a great deal of time to themselves, but they would ?. Ta privately at one or two places, and I hope it will be absolutely private for them.”

He added that they would, of course, maintain their correspondence with the King and Queen and their family. Their correspondence would be put into a special bag and flown to England in the ordinary way. A New Zealand equerry would join the Royal party in Australia, said Sir Norman Gwatkin.

HAWEA’S ESCORT DUTY

VOLUNTEER CREW COMMANDER SELECTED (From Out Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) announced to-day that Lieutenant- Commander C. H. Hilkard, of Auckland, had been appointed to command H.M.N.Z.S. Hawea for escort duty during the Royal visit to New Zealand. The Hawea is expected at Auckland on March 8, after service with the United Nations naval forces in the Korean area. She will recommission

at the beginning of April She will be manned almost entirely by the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. Some key personnel wiU be supplied by the Royal New Zealand Navy. Reservists will also serve in other New Zealand ships forming the escort for the Royal tour. Volunteers have been sought among officers and ratings of the four divisions cf the Royal New Zealand Volunteer Reserve. Volunteers may serve either for the whole period or, if that is not possible, for part of the Royal visit Although all applications have not yet been received, an excellent response is expected. Employers are cooperating in releasing personnel for

STATE SUBSIDY TO AUCKLAND

COUNCIL SEEKING INCREASE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. The maximum Government subsidy which the City Council will be allowed on the cost of the Royal visit to Auckland will be £4500, but it is not regarded as sufficient. “It is understood that the same grant is being made to each of the four main centres,” said the Mayor (Sir John Allum to-day. “Representations are being made for an additional grant, in view of the much larger community to be served here.” When arrangements were being made in 1948 for a visit by the King and Queen and Princess Margaret, the maximum Government subsidy for the visit to Auckland was £2400.

ROYAL RACE MEETING IN AUCKLAND

DATE MAY BE JUNE 7 (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. Anticipating that Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh would attend a race meeting when visiting Auckland, the Auckland Racing Club did not complete its programme for the Great Northern Steeplechase meeting. The secretary of the club (Mr W. S. Spence) said to-day that, on receipt of official advice, a sub-committee would decide '.he stakes, trophies, and names of the races. He thought the Royal couple would attend the third and last day of the meeting, on June

“We may put on a special race or two, and there will have to be some with Royal names,” added Mr Spence. “It will not be an extra day’s racing, but part of the usual meeting."