ROYAL TOUR

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 5

ROYAL TOUR

QUEEN ELIZABETH

South Africa’s Favourite

CAPETOWN, Feb. 21

Already it is unmistakably clear that of the members of the Royal Family, the Queen is South Africa’s favourite. The fresh and youthful personalities of the Princesses attract great attention, but it is. the Queen’s charm and smile, and her easy way of talking to people, that make the deepest appeal to the .South African public. There have already been many examples of the effortless way in which the Queen makes friends with people in a few minutes. At a combined -welcome of the Municipality and the naval station at Simonstown, near Capetown, the Queen dominated the scene. It was she who walked oven to the school children as they sang “We welcome Your Majesties to Simonstown to-day,’,’ and talked with them. She easily evoked responses from both nonEuropean and European children some of whom were only eight years old. In the street crowds tears fill the eyes of-many' women, from whom come such remarks as “she is a lovely person,” and “what a wonderful expression she has.” It is not affection in a sense of the emotion felt by the British people for their Royal Family that at present moves the South Africans to turn out in their thousands to welcome the Royal Family. In South Africa, 57 per cent, of the population are Afrikanders, many of whom favour secession from the British Commonwealth of Nations. There is a good deal of curiosity in the attitude of the average citizen, especially those speaking Afrikaan, towards the Royal Family. On both sides —Royalty and public—there is still a little strangeness to be worn off, but the visitors and hosts are already getting more used to each other, and in this accustoming process, the Queen is playing a tremendous’ part.

COLOURED PEOPLE’S DANCING STATELY AND COLOURFUL CAPETOWN, Feb. 21. Twenty-four thousand of Capetown’s 180,000 coloured population danced old time dances before Their Majesties and the Princess in the City Hall last night, while 50,000 coloured people gathered outside. The Queen asked Malays to sing and dance traditional numbers dating back to the East Indies slave days. Only non-Europeans were allowed on the floor. Princeus Elizabeth, from a golddraped royal box, watched the coloured people dance a stately Quadrille, Lances, and Tikkie Draai. The last named is an old time Cape dance, beating time with a fan. The women’s dresses were vividly colourful, red mixingwith gold, green, and white. The women wore white feathers in their hair and the men all wore dinner jackets, or full evening dress.

ATTITUDE OF BOER ELEMENT.

CAPETOWN, Feb. 20.

There was amazing scenes as the Royal Family entered Steelenbosch, a Nationalist (Opposition) stronghold. Sixteen thousand people, including university students, sang “God Save the King,” applauded and cheered. It is not affection in the sense of emotidn felt by the British people for the Royal Family that at present moves South Africans to turn out in thousands to welcome the Royal Family. In South Africa 57 per cent, of the population are Afrikanders. many of whom favour secession from the British Commonwealth. There is a good deal of curiosity in the attitude of the average citizen, especially those speaking Afrikaans, towards the Royal Family. On both sides —Royalty and the public —there is stlil a little more strangeness to be worn off, but visitors and hosts are already getting more used to each other and in this accustoming process the Queen is playing a tremendous part. PITCAIRN ISLAND, Feb. 20.

The first Royal visit was made to Pitcairn Island tc-day when the Duchess of Gloucester received 100 islanders, on board the Rangitiki. Four boatlods, comprising almost the entire population of adults on the island, went on board the liner. They presented the Duchess and the Princes with native handerchiefs and oys. The liner made a three-hour visit in perfect weather. The islanders expect the Rimutaka to call at the island on Sunday en route to New Zealand. |