THE ROYAL PRINCES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 9

THE ROYAL PRINCES

INFORMAL DEPARTURE

POPULAR ENTHUSIASM

British Official Wireless. (Received 7th September, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 6th September. The Prince of Wales and his brother the Duke of Gloucester set out to-day on their tour of Africa. They will traverse the continent from north to south, visiting Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, and Rhodesia by rail and motorcar, concluding their journey in time to spend Christinas at Capetown with their uncle and aunt, the Earl aud Countess of Athlone. In East Africa the Prince of Wales will be visiting the only considerable portion of the Empire he has not yet seen. The tour will combine a semi-official visit and holiday, including big game hunting, and it has been desirable to keep it as free from formality as possible. The Princes'and a suite of four, are travelling overland to Marseilles to join the liner Kaisav-i-Hind, which leaves for Alexandria to-morrow night. Before embarking the Prince of Wales will visit the Queen Alexandra Memorial Hospital and the headquarters of the British Legion. On arrival in Egypt the Princes will lunch with King Fuad, who has offered them a private yacht in case they prefer to proceed to the Sudan by thi river route. The provisional arrangements are that the Royal party will join the liner at Malda at Ismailia for a voyage down the east coast of Africa to Mombasa. From there the Princes will ontrain for the interior of Kenya. While the Prince of Wales will receive addresses from native tribes and will inspect troops, schools, and hospitals on his way through Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda, the Duke of Gloucester will spend some days shooting ir the big game fastnesses of Kenya and Tanganyika. The Duke will afterwards rejoin his brother oiv a caravan route journey through Rhodesia, changing to the railway at Broken Hill to proceed to South Africa. Absolute informality marked the departure from London this afternoon of the Princes. This was in accordance with the Prince of Wales's personal wish. The Royal brothers arrived at Victoria Station not in uniform, but dressed as ordinary civilians in lounge suits with bowler hats. There were no official personages to bid them farewell, as, accompanied, by their small suite, they entered a Pullman car of the boat train for Dover. A largo crowd, howover, witnessed their departure and gave the Prince and his brother an enthusiastic send-off. With similar informality the Princes embarked at Dover in the cross-channel steamer Invicta, walking direct from the train to the ship. There was no cerenlony, but again the Princes received a great ovation.