NEARING SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Star, Issue 26028, 17 February 1947, Page 7

NEARING SOUTH AFRICA

ROYAL PARTY OH VANGUARD

DUE AT CAPE TOWN TO-DAY Glee. 8 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. fa. me lloyal Family joined in a singsong last night when tney were me guests of 11..U.5. Vanguard’s officers, it was the first time the King and Queen and the princesses had dined together in file wardroom of one or His Majesty’s ships. The lloyal Family, while Captain Aguew himself took over the wateli on the bridge to allow both navigating officers to be present, sat at dinner with 73 officers and civilian members of the mess. After dinner their Majesties and the prill-, cesses gathered round a piano played by one of the navigating officers, and enthusiastically joined in the choruses nf a number of songs. Princess Margaret then took the navigating officer's place at the piano. The Queen afterwards said: “ It was wonderful fun. We enjoi'ed the evening more than we can sa.v.”

The King and Queen, in boiler suits, yesterday toured H.M.S. Vanguard’s engine room in a temperature of 97deg, says Reuter’s correspondent. The Queen nimblv descended the narrow, vertical ladders, and the King discussed the engines and boilers with the engineer and commander, while the Queen, through dark glasses, watched the blazing oil fuel through the open furnace doors. Their Majesties visited the stokers’ dining hall," and then the damage control room, where the King examined reports of imaginary bomb and torpedo damage in the exercise carried out during the voyage. The Press party dined with their Majesties and the princesses in the Royal apartments. As the Vanguard nears the end_ of its journey the outstanding impression is how much the Royal Family has enjoyed the voyage, says Reuter’s, correspondent. All aboard are delighted at the way in which the Royal Family lias entered unto the life of the ship. The lack of formality at afternoon “playtime” on the quarterdeck has endeared their Majesties and the Princesses to all.

SOUTH-WESTERLY GALE

A south-westerly gale disrupted H.M.S. Vanguard’s programme for the last day of the voyage, says Reuter’s correspondent. The decks heaved too much, and were too wet to allow a projected march-past of the ship’s company. The Royal Family attended divine service, which was held in the.ship’s cinema, because of wind and spray. The Capo Town correspondent of the Associated Press says three frigates lie in Cape Town Harbour ready to escort the Vanguard to her berth on Monday, She is due at 9.45 a.m., local time. Ashore, the city’s population, sweltering in temperatures above 90deg, has been swelled by thousands, many of whom will sleep out to-night along the ridge of the historic Signal Hill. Many travelled hundreds of miles for the first visit of a reigning British Monarch.