ROYAL VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 8

ROYAL VISIT

GIBRALTAR. INSPECTED THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER CALLS ON SPANISH LEADERS LONDON, Oct, 22 An official account of the Duke of Gloucester's recent visit to Gibraltar states that the programme omitted practically no aspect of life on the Rock or harbour. Every unit of the garrison was inspected in turn, and the Duke paid visits to all the principal units in the harbour. His Royal Highness contrived to make a complete tour oi the dockyards and spent a morning with the Royal Air ¥ orce, visiting the now aerodrome slipway. Later in the week the civil defence services and the hospitals were also inspected. During a tour on foot around the fortifications ami the labyrinth of subterranean galleries, tunnels and caves, the Duke spoke with many of the expert tunnellers. including a contingent from the Dominions. The bappv relations which exist between Gibraltar and the neighbouring Spanish authorities were emphasised by the presence at a luncheon party, given in honour of the Duke by the Governor, of General K. Barron y Ortiz, military Governor of Algeciras. who was accompanied by the Consul-General for Spain. The Duke was also the guest of Don Marie Pinies y Rayons, at a luncheon, which took place at Algeciras. In the afternoon Ilis Royal Highness visited the country house of a prominent Spanish resident in the neighbourhood. A friendly atmospheie reigned throughout and many people were assembled on the roads and in the streets to give the Duke a friendly welcome as he drove back to the fortress. . On Mondav General Don Alfonso do Orleans v Borbon and his son, Don Ataulfo. took luncheon with the Duke at Government House. The Duke is the first member of the British Royal Family to visit Gibraltar since the King and Queen, then Duke and Duchess of Yo/k, stayed there for a few days on their way back iiom Australia.