ROYAL GOVERNOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23113, 30 January 1945, Page 5

ROYAL GOVERNOR

Duke Of Gloucester

,Warmly Welcomed In Australia

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyrtgtn LONDON, January 28.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has arrived in Australia to take up his post as Gover-nor-General. The Duke took every opportunity, both during the voyage and immediately before he left London, to gain the latest war information. On his last day in London he had a long intimate talk with Mr Churchill about the war situation, especially in the Pacific theatre. Mr Churchill had luncheon with the Duke and Duchess, being the last guest they entertained before they began the voyage to Australia. This was merely one, although the most important of the talks and discussions the Duke had with Britain's war leaders to learn'the latest developments of policy and strategy decided on in London. The three cniefs of Staff (FieldMarshal Sir Alan F. Brooke, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham) were among those the Duke saw.

On the Australian side the Duke heard much during his last days in Britain from the Australian High Commissioner (Mr S. M. Bruce).

Reception at Malta

The Duke and Duchess were given a rousing receptfon by the people of Malta, where they spent Christmas Lay. Although their arrival was announced only a tew hours in advance they were greeted on a tour of the island by applauding crowds. They devoted almost the entire day to visits to areas which suffered the most severely during the Island’s two and a half years’ siege. Before visiting Malta the Duke and Duchess paid a brief visit to Gibraltar, where they were the guests of the Governor (Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Eastwood). At Colombo, although the visit .had been kept a close secret, news of their arrival spread rapidly. There was a crowd to watch the party land. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten (Commander-in-Chief, South-epst Asia) came to Colombo from Kandy to see the Duke and give him first-hand the latest picture situation in his theatre of operations. The Royal party did not confine themselves to the suite but participated in the social life aboard the liner. They joined ship’s games. Little Prince William was always a prime favourite and with a number of children aboard had no lack of companions. He celebrated his third birthday before Christmas, with a special children’s party. The weather on the trip, apart from a rough passage of the Bay of Biscay, was pleasant. A frigate of the Duke of Gloucester’s Royal escort on the second night of . the voyage encountered, and, it is believed, sank an enemy submarine. The escort carried out a converging attack Vith depth charges and a large expanse of fuel oil was later seen. Sydney Streets Thronged A Sydney message said that the Duke and Duchess arrived late last night. Their departure from London was kept secret until the vessel on which they were travelling was nearing the end of the voyage. The first news that the Royal party had left London was released on Saturday.

Although the public were entirely unprepared for the party’s arrival in Sydney great welcoming Australia Day holiday crowds spontaneously thronged the city streets this morning, when the Duke and Duchess drove to the Cenotaph,. where they placed flowers. The Union Jack and Australian flag hung from most city buildings. The safe arrival of the Royal party was announced by Mr Curtin, who said that Australians extended to them a very cordial welcome after a journey involving the hazards of wartime travel.

The Acting-Govemor-General, Sir Winston Dugan, and the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Wakehurst, called on the Duke and Duchess aboard ship this morning, and later the Royal party came ashore, where the DeputyPrime Minister, Mr F. M. Forde, headed the official welcoming party. After their visit to the Cenotaph, the Duke and Duchess drove to Admiralty House (their official Sydney residence), lunching privately with Sir Winston and Lady Dugan This afternoon they will drive to Canberra. Demonstrations of welcome will take place at towns along the route. Mr Curtin will meet the Duke and Duchess at the National Capital. The Duke will be sworn in to-morrow. The ceremony, in deference to his wishes, will be kept as simple as possible, and is not expected to last more than five minutes. The reception afterwards will be confined to fewer than 100 guests. The opening of the Federal Parliament by the Duke on February 21 will also be as simple as possible, and will not be accompanied by the customary ceremonial. Arrangements for the reception of the Royal Party in Canberra were completed months ago. Except for slight renovations and the installation of a few new pieces of furniture, Government House has been left almost untouched. The Duke is likely to spend much time away from Canberra, and to travel extensively to gain the most intimate knowledge possible of the Commonwealth. British Faith In Australia

. Like his predecessor, Lord Gowrie. the Duke will confine his public engagements to those with war or other national significance. Welcoming the Duke and Duchess, the “Sydney Daily Telegraph” to-day says: “Australia will see in the sending of the Duke to represent the King in Australia a proof of the high value Britain places upon the part we play in the affairs of the British Commonwealth. The King’s gesture in sending his brother to Canberra has an important symbolic significance. It restates British faith in Australia’s desire to continue as part of the British Commonwealth of Nations." The “Sydney Morning Herald” says: “It is to 1 i counted as a privilege that the Kirfg’s brother is now to occupy the post of Governor-General, w'hich he will assume with the loyal good will and affectionate regard of the whole nation. The Duke will know in advance of this morning’s welcome to Sydney that he has come as the King’s representative among a loyal, warmhearted and friendly people, whose first wish will be that- he and his consort will have a happy and beneficial sojourn in our country.”

Departure for Canberra In spite of the Australia Day public holiday, and only 12 hours’ notice that the Royal party had arrived, Sydney gave the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester a tumultuous welcome this morning. Tens of thousands of persons, undeterred by the overcast sky and light showers, cheered the Royal party driving through the city. It was a stirringly spontaneous reception to the first Prince of the Blood Royal to represent the King as GovernorGeneral of a British Dominion.

The Duke, wearing a military uniform with the rank of LieutenantGeneral, came ashore at 10.30 a.rn. accompanied by the Duchess and the three-year-old Prince William. They were met by a large official party, including the Deputy-Prime Minister. Mr Forde. Federal and State Ministers and the chiefs of the Australian armed services.

Responding to the address of welcome by the Lord Mayor, Aiderman W. N. Harding, the Duke paid tribute to the war effort of the people of Sydney, the third largest city in the Empire, in the armed forces, in factories, in dockyards and in social services. Subsequently the Royal party drc”e to the Cenotaph, -where the Duke laid a wreath of laurel and roses, and the Duchess a spray of flowers. After lunching with the Actln o - Governor-General, Sir Winston Dugan, and Lady Dugan and Mr and Mrs Forde, the Royal party left this aft‘“noon by car for Canberra. At every township on the way cheering crowds gathered. The ship which brought their Royal Highnesses to Australia is a former one-class passenger liner. Including members of the Royal party, there were 249 passengers aboard. Amon? New Zealand Service personnel who travelled 1/ the ship were officers of the Fleet Air Arm. who are returning home on leave. Members of the Royal staff received

no special privileges while on board. The Duke and Duchess always dined in their own suite, frequently entertaining fellow passengers at dinner. New Zealanders were among their guests. The escort for the liner on the voyage from England to Australia comprised a cruiser and two destroyers of the Roval Australian and New Zealand Navies. During the passage through the dangerous U-boat area near Britain, this escort was strengthened by the addition of six frigates. Late at night one of these frigates made an attack on a U-bcat and is believed to have destroyed it. Their Royal Highnesses signalled congratulations to ths officer commanding the frigates. None of the liner’s other passengers was aware of the attack on the U-boat, since it was not considered necessary to give any genera) alarm To-day two Rolls-Royce limousines, one black and the other maroon, bearing the P.oyal Coat of Arms, were put ashore from the ship. The Duke’s plane is still aboard. Other aircraft for the use of the Royal party in visiting every portion of the Australian continent are now being flown out from England.