Informal reception

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 1

Informal reception

By

LES BLOXHAM

In spite of a day crammed with official engagements, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spent more than 40 minutes chatting informally to journalists and photographers accredited to the tour at a reception on board Britannia at Auckland last evening.

The reception followed the traditional pattern of being an “off-the-record” affair, thus allowing the Royal couple a rare chance of fraternising with the press without having to face the customary gaggie of jostling photographers. The 150 reporters covering the tour include 14 from Britain, two from France, and four from Australia. Five of London’s main daily newspapers are represented.

The reception was held on the Royal yacht’s veranda deck under a red and white striped canvas awning.

The journalists and photographers were introduced to the Queen and Duke by the public relations officer for the tour, Mr E. M. Horan. The Royal couple then mingled freely with those present and sought answers to a wide range of questions. The Duke, in particular, was interested in progress at Lancaster Park. Forty minutes later, the reception was over; but not the day’s busy pro-

gramme for the Royal visitors. There was a dinner party at 7 p.m., and another reception three hours later—a more formal affair for 250 leading Aucklanders.

Then Britannia slipped out of Auckland and set course through the Hauraki Gulf for Whangarei.