PRINCE’S TOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19783, 26 April 1934, Page 14

PRINCE’S TOUR

VALUE OF PERSONAL CONTACT. British Official Wireless RUGBY, April 23. After a three months’ tour of many thousands of miles through Africa, Prince George arrived home to-day. He lost no time in going to Windsor to greet the King snd Queen. When he reached Southampton in the Windsor Castle, a civic deputation and a large cheering crowd awaited him. He drove to the Municipal air port, where the Prince of Wales had sent his private aeroplane to wait for him. In this he and his staff flew to the Windsor great park, and after going to Wales House, at Fort Belvedere, he and his brother drove to the Castle, where they remained to tea and dinner with their Majesties. Prince George looked very brown and well. He said he had had a splendid time. Royal Honour. The King invested Prince George with the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. The companionship of the same Order was conferred on Mr Ulick Alexander. The crowd cheered the Windsor Castle, flying Prince George’s personal standard at the mizzen mast, when docking at Southampton, but Prince George was below deck farewelling friends made during the voyage. The Prince was going ashore, when he stopped and remarked to Mr Alexander: I have not said good-bye to the captain, whom a steward summoned. Prince George shook hands, saying it had been a marvellous trip. He then walked to his car amid the cheers of thousands, and departed waving his hand from the window. Loyalty of South Africa. The “Daily Mail,” in a leader says that Prince George’s tour demonstrated the enormous value of those personal contacts between the Crown and the Dominions. Such African ovations were expressions of loyalty as well as appreciation of Prince George’s personal charm.