During her long career, the Queen has traveled to many places, but did she ever tour New Zealand? We look at some of the events she has been involved in and how she has impacted on the country.
Prince Louis Mountbatten accompanied the Prince
During the Queen’s tour of New Zealand in March and April, the Prince of Wales visited Nelson, Dunedin, Rotorua and Auckland. He was the first British Royal to be given the freedom of each city. He also attended a shooting expedition in Wairarapa.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were accompanied by John Cecil Clunies-Ross on the tour. They also visited Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. Prince Charles represented The Queen at state dinners and other ceremonial occasions. Prince Harry joined The Prince and Princess of Wales at the end of the tour in Italy.
The Prince of Wales was second in the line of succession to the throne of the Commonwealth Realms. He was born in Greece in 1921. He was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. He was christened on the great-grandmother’s 82nd birthday. His godparents were King Constantine II of the Hellenes, Princess Alexandra of Greece and Sir Laurence van der Post.
In June 1953, The Prince ascended to the throne and his mother and father accompanied him on his first overseas tour. He travelled to India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.
During World War II, Lord Louis Mountbatten served in the Royal Navy. He was promoted to Captain in 1937. He was also appointed G.C.V.O. before his Coronation in 1937. He was appointed to a number of foreign orders after the war. He also served as a Governor of the Isle of Wight. He later became the last Viceroy of India.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made their principal home at Highgrove House near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. They had an apartment in Kensington Palace as their London home. They also spent their honeymoon at Balmoral. Prince and Princess of Wales had 17 godchildren.
Prince Victoria’s first tour to New Zealand
Despite the fact that New Zealand was only accessible by ship in the early 1900s, the Royal Family visited New Zealand many times. The visits were carefully arranged propaganda exercises and were paid for by the New Zealand government. The visits also acknowledged New Zealand’s contribution to both world wars.
Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria, was the first member of the British royal family to visit New Zealand. He spent a week in Wellington and then visited Nelson, Auckland and Dunedin.
The royals were welcomed with a haka. They were also invited to formal lunches and garden parties. They also cut ribbons and attended civic receptions. They were greeted with huge crowds and were treated to speeches.
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were welcomed by a large crowd at each stop on their journey. They toured Waitomo, Cambridge and Te Awamutu. They also visited Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu and Ngaruawahia. The royal train passed through Taupiri and Huntly.
On the way back from Rotorua, the royals visited the Karapiro Hydro-electric Dam. Their presence left a strong impression on the locals.
The royals arrived in New Zealand on April 11, 1869. They were welcomed with a haka and speeches. They visited Christchurch, Nelson, Auckland and Dunedin. They also stayed at Huka Lodge in Taupo.
The Royal Train passed through the Waikato River, with people gathering to wave at the train. The royals were greeted with a ‘roar of approval’ in Auckland. Their visit marked the first time a reigning monarch opened Parliament. The royals were also invited to the Claudelands Showground for an agricultural display.
In December 1870, Prince Alfred made a final visit to the Waikato. His Royal Highness wrote a letter to the Alexander Turnbull Library describing his visit.
Queen’s first and only concert in New Zealand
Earlier this year Queen played their first ever concert in New Zealand. They were joined by Joan Jett, Heart and The Teardrop Explosions. It was also the first time in the country they had played a stadium show. The concert was a success.
The concert was part of a wider tour of the region, and they are expected to play six stadium shows in Australia. They are also expected to visit East Asia. The concert will likely be televised, as well. The concert is one of Queen’s most anticipated concerts of the year.
The show featured a multitude of impressive feats. One of the show’s most impressive feats was the use of lasers to project video images. Another was the use of a state-of-the-art sound system. The band also played a few of their hits. There were also several costume changes.
Freddie Mercury, Queen’s frontman, was a bit tipsy before the show. He also shared some of his vintage port with Tony Hadley, a member of Spandau Ballet. The band also performed a multi-delay effect on their guitar solo. This was the best thing about the show.
The concert was also notable for having a surprisingly large audience. It was estimated that the show drew in 30,000 fans. Although, it was also overcast most of the time, without any rain. This is the first time Queen have played a stadium show in New Zealand.
The show was also notable for having an awe-inspiring light show. There were lasers and other lights, including a dazzling array of screens. The concert was a spectacle to behold, even if the show was not particularly well timed.
The concert was also the only time Queen performed in New Zealand. They were in the country in 1953-54, but broke the country’s apartheid embargo.
Queen’s role in redressing the past
During her short tenure on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II was an unabashed fan of her native land’s indigenous Maori. She toured the country’s most remote islands, sat in on ceremonial oaths, and dined at the table with the royals. It’s no wonder she made the requisite number of trips to the South Pacific. She also penned a number of books, including two volumes devoted to the history of Ngaruawahia. It’s a shame she didn’t snag a telephoto lens to boot, but a quick browse through the shelves at Te Papa will give you an idea of how dedicated the Queen was to her native land.
The Queen’s time is over, but her legacies remain. She is still the toast of her country and the world. In addition to her literary and political achievements, the Queen will be remembered as one of the most generous and kind women in recent memory. She was also the first monarch to wear the crown of Queen Elizabeth II, which is no small feat. She was a savvy politician who was able to wrangle some very interesting concessions from her erstwhile colleagues. She also did a fair number of high-profile PR tours, including a few for her son Prince William.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge unable to visit the marae in 2014
Sadly, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not be visiting the Turangawaewae marae in 2014. Tuheitia’s office has issued a statement saying the decision to not meet the royals was out of respect for his people. The office says the royals had been offered a 90-minute slot, which the king felt was not enough time for protocol to be observed.
The Maori King and his advisers were at the Ratana Pa celebrations yesterday. The king and his advisers told a reporter that the 90-minute slot was not enough time. They felt other planned visits to Waikato were just as important.
But, Tuheitia’s office said they felt that a visit to the marae was still possible. He wrote a personal letter to the royals, which said, “It is a great honour for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to be invited to meet the King and the people of New Zealand.”
But he says the visit would only be a brief visit. The king and his advisers were not happy with the decision and wanted to meet the royals for longer than 90 minutes. He said there was a “short window of opportunity” and a “high degree of urgency.”
The duchess of Cambridge, who is the wife of Prince William, has toured extensively since 2014. In 2015, she visited Marae Taumata, where she met the Windrush generation.
Prince William and Kate will arrive in New Zealand on April 7, where they will stay for 19 days. They will travel to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Dunedin, Sydney and Canberra. They will also meet with the Pillars charity, which helps children of prisoners. Their final day will be spent exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand.