THE ROYAL TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 26011, 28 January 1947, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR

KING SUPERVISES PROGRAMME SOME AFRIKAANS MASTERED KEEH TO MEET BOER FARMERS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. Both the King and Queen spent many hours studying in preparation for their South African tour, states the ‘ Sunday Times ’ correspondent. Their Majesties set themselves to master the complexities of politics and race, and to study the entire range of South African life. Almost every important visitor from the Union or a South African who arrived in. Britain in-recent months and whose views and understanding were olf value had an audience with the King. In addition the King and Queen had an intensive course of reading books about South Africa. This covered not only the Union, but the native protectorates. Their Majesties, as well as the Princesses, have learned some Afrikaans, sufficient to be able to say a few, sentences or return greetings. It will also help them master the very difficult pronunciation of names and places, a matter they regard as of great importance.

A good deal of the work of programme building has also fallen on the King. He had to weigh the claims of people and places in relation to closecut margins of time. The main lines of the tour, as well as the host of details have been worked out by a committee in South Africa, which has communicated its plans through South Africa House to Sir Alan Lascelles, His Majesty’s Secretary. The King and Queen personally supervised the selection of the immense number of' presents that are being taken out for native chiefs and others. Both are keen to'meet Boer farming families.