QUEEN’S VISIT TO EDINBURGH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27075, 25 June 1953, Page 9

QUEEN’S VISIT TO EDINBURGH

Informal Gestures Please Crowd (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 23. Queen Elizabeth today remembered a little Shetland pony after she had inspected a guard of honour at the Palace of Holyrood House, her Royal residence in Edinburgh. The guard of honour was formed by the Ist Battalion of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, recently returned from service in Korea. Standing in front of the men was the regiment’s mascot, Cruachan, the pony. After she had moved among the ranks the Queen strolled back and stroked the pony's muzzle. Guests on the Palace lawns rose spontaneously and cheered the informal gesture—only one of the many that delighted Edinburgh on this, the first day of the Queen’s Coronation State visit to the Scottish capital. Another was during her drive to Holyrood House, when she turned in her carriage, particularly to acknowledge the greetings of 700 crippled and blind children behind the crush barriers. More than 10,000 persons saw the Queen plant a Japanese double-flower-ing cherry tree in The Meadows, a large open park near the city centre, where the Royal Company of Archers—the Queen’s bodyguard in Scotland—hold practices. The Queen had a special silverbladed spade, smaller than that used by the Duke of Edinburgh. It had an ash handle originally used by the Queen’s great grandmother, Queen Alexandra, when she planted a tree in 1902. .When told that the tree would be at the head of an avenue to be planted by Girl Guides, the Duke of Edinburgh remarked: “Oh, how very appropriate.” Photographer’s Bulb Explodes When the Queen was in the forecourt of the City Chambers, there was a small incident. A photographer’s bulb exploded and the noise appeared to startle her. She quickly realised what had happened and glanced across to see if another cameraman, who had been struck by glass fragments, was all right.

This visit to the Scottish capital means a lot to the Scots. They are proud that after her Coronation in Westminster Abbey the Queen wanted to come to Edinburgh first. They are proud of their ancient nationhood and they saw’ recognition of their national status in her decision.

Many foreign visitors had a glimpse of today’s pageantry, including 33 Norwegian policemen under the command of Detective Leif Skotnes, of the Oslo police, who saw the Royal procession. No demonstrations by Scottish Nationalists were reported. Chalk marks on walls and one or two pamphlets dropped in public places appeared to be the extent of any feeling against the Queen. A leaflet in a telephone box headed “English imperialism or Scottish nationalism?” said: “The Queen is being deliberately used by the British Government to bolster up England’s commercial interests. She is being used as a propaganda instrument to revive England’s crumbling Empire.”