ROYAL PROGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 7

ROYAL PROGRESS

A FOUR-MILE ROUTE "WELCOME TO MOTHER CITY" AN OVERWHELMING RECEPTION (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, February 17. Every race and colour of 'the mixed population was represented in the crowd which watched the Royal Family drive through the city streets. His Majesty throughout the drive saluted continually, and the Queen smilingly waved. Their Majesties, with an escort of mounted police in brown uniforms and helmets, drove at a snail’s pace in the first car, the princesses, eagerly looking from side to side, in the second.

Then followed a line of official cars so long that at points the troops lining the route fell out before the last car passed. Volunteers from the Union’s Citizen Force, naval forces, school cadets, Boy Scouts, and white and coloured ex-ser-vicemen lined the four-mile route which took the party twice down Adderley street and along Castle street, past the grey walls of historic Cape Town Castle. The crowds were deepest in the City Hall, where 10,000 ex-service-men paraded. Huge signs in blue and yellow lights, surrounded/by the city and Union arms, read : “ Welcome to the Mother City.”

Tiie Royal cars stopped at the gates of Government House, where the Go-venor-General and Mrs van Zyl, who had come on ahead, awaited the Royal guests. His Majesty inspected the military guard, while the Queen and Princesses looked across the famous Cape Gardens, filled with masses of gaily-col-oured flowers.

At 12.30 members of the South African Parliament presented loyal addresses, after which His Majesty bestowed the insignia of the Order of Merit on General Smuts. The Governor-General sent the following message to the Royal Family before the Vanguard’s arrival: — “ Your visit is an event of the greatest significance for South Africa. A warm welcome from every section of the community awaits your Majesties and your Royal Highnesses." His Majesty renlied : “ Please express to all in the Union my sincere thanks

for their kind message. It is with very real pleasure that we are awaiting our first sight of South Africa and our arrival at Cape Town.” MALAN AND OPPOSITIONISTS ABSENT. At 4.30 p.m. their Majesties received diplomats at Government House. The Leader of the Opposition, Dr Malan, did not attend the presentation of the loyal addresses by the Houses of Parliament to His Majesty. Only 10 of the 46 Opposition members from the Assembly, and none from the Senate, Were present. The mid-day temperature in Cape Town was 100 degrees in the shade. At least 1,000 persons are estimated to have received first aid before and during the procession. ' Eight lorry loads, of Royal luggage were taken off the Vanguard. General Smuts, in his welcoming speech at to-niglit’s State banquet, said South Africa was convinced that the Royal visit would serve to strengthen the bonds of friendship and goodwill among the British Commonwealth of Nations. An opportunity would be afforded to their Majesties of seeing the “ scenic beauty, immense settings, and wonderful climate of this fair land,” and by following the pioneers’ tracks witness the product of the pioneers’ faith, fortitude, and determination—“ prosperous cities, thriving villages, and hamlets and peaceful homes scattered the length and breadth of this vast dominion.” Above aIL South Africans rejoiced that their Majesties would see men. women, and children' of all South African races greeting and offering loval nffee+’on. AH South Africans would always cherish this privelege. Their Majesties’ visit, would become an active force in shaping associations and memories for the future.