ROYAL GOVERNOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 3

ROYAL GOVERNOR

THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER APPOINTED TO AUSTRALIA SYDNEY, Nov. 16. The Duke of Gloucester, the King's younger brother, has been designated Governor-General of Australia in succession to Lord Gowrie, whose term of office has been extended to July 21, 1944. The Duke will be the first brother of a reigning King to serve as Governor-General in any dominion. “Australians will be deeply appro-* ciative of his Majesty’s action in appointing a member of the Royal Family to be Governor-General of Australia,” said the Federal Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, making the announcement. “All in this country will look forward with affectionate and loyal interest to the arrival again in Australia of his Royal Highness. The Duke of Gloucester visited Australia and New Zealand in 1934. His brother, the late Duke of Kent, was appointed Commonwealth Gover-nor-General in 1939, but did not take up his duties because of the war. He was killed in an aircraft crash last year. . Negotiations for the Duke’s appointment have been in progress since just after the Federal elections in August. Mr Curtin’s announcement has been hailed with the greatest of enthusiasm. The Sydney Morning Herald to-day says in an editorial that the Duke’s

appointment gives immense gratification to the people of Australia, and reaffirms the sunreme importance of the Crown as the centre and symbol of Empire unity. “Nor will it be overlooked.' adds the paper, “ that an Australian Labour Ministry, despite the traditional party predelictions for a native-born appointee, should have sponsored the proposal for a royal vice-regent. These are signs of the times —times of great peril and great stress—in which the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations have instinctively drawn still nearer together.” The Duke of Gloucester is not expected to arrive in Australia before next August to take up his appointment as Governor-General. The State Governor v/ill act as Governor-General following the departure of Lord Gowrie and pending the arrival of the Duke. Whether the Duchess and their two-year-old son, Prince William, will accompany the Duke to Australia depends on the state of the war at the time of the royal party’s departure from England, but the Duchess is reported to be extremely anxious to come.

In view of thq Royal Family’s desire for war-time simplicity, the Duke of Gloucester’s household is expected to be* comparatively small. It is not thought, therefore, that any extensive additions will be made to Government House at Canberra, on which £70,000 was spent, when the late Duke of Kent was appointed Governor-General-designate. Some political commentators suggest that Mr Curtin will visit England early next year, and will confer with the Duke before he leaves to take up his appointment.