75th Anniversary of Royal Tour to South Africa in 1947

 Day 91: 1st May 1947 Visit to Ascension Island HMS Vanguard and HMS Nigeria stopped 3/4 of a mile off Ascension at 1030. A large and small motor boat full of people came out to see the ship and the Royal Family who were on the quarter deck. The remainder of the population looked on from a Jetty and the surrounding hills. The ships proceeded again 10 minutes later. A Fortress aircraft from the American Squadron stationed there escorted the ship from 0830 to 1045. Shown below the postage stamps for King George V1 of Ascension Island  These next two covers with explanations from my collection. Could the last one be most rare apart from St Helena cover with the missing "Red" from cover? Map of Ascension Island If you would like to see a video of what it is like to land on the Island link below: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=okgVqvlu&id=E3218195AF1AB885B65041F8BC4AB28CD106215F&thid=OIP.okgVqvlumzLegtSCKxCRnQHaE Also the island was essential for...

 Day 90: 30th April 1947 Ship sails on towards Accession Island after leaving St Helena. Must have been just a normal day at sea as the Captain makes no entries Postal cover for the 30th April 1947 with the Royal set of stamps Another couple of postal covers on the same cover but one has stamps of Swaziland and the other Basutoland both sent on same day to the same recipient Some more pictures.

 Day 89: 29th April Captain's Diary The 2 ships  anchored at 0900 at St Helena off Jamestown and the Royal Family visited HMS Nigeria between 1030 and 1130. At 1345 the Royal family left the ship for a tour of the Island and they re-embarked at 1645 The ships weighed anchor at 1730 to proceed to Ascension Island Link at bottom of post for Youtube 5 minute video last 20seconds of video is Ascension Island Very Rare Postal Cover for the 29th April 1947 Part of set of 4 stamps not sure of date but has to be after 1984 Also there was a private over print of stamps and here is an article about them.  Where is St Helena                                                                       Map of St Helena St Helena is most famous for the fact that Emperor Napoleon was exiled to the Island   The condit...

Day 88: 28th April 1947  Captain's diary. The Captain reports that the Officer of the watch carried out manoeuvres from 1030 to 1130. At 1900 HMS Nigeria was opened out to 10 miles astern for another radar test.  Another postal cover type from the Royal Visit, the covers are similar except first one has an extra line under the portraits with the line "First Day of Issue"  Some more pictures from the Royal Tour with unknown places this time of the Queen and the Princesses Some pictures with the Royal Family in formal dress and uniform and car trips

 Day 87: 27th April 1947 Captain's Diary is blank. This is a Sunday but here is another postal cover from the Royal Visit Here are two more covers that are hand drawn. These are some pictures from the Royal Tour but the place not identified. The King is in a Lounge Suit in all the pictures. These are original pictures. The first picture I believe is of Warriors Gate Museum and is the Durban Base of the MOTH Order and is directly opposite Kingspark Cricket ground in NMR Avenue.                                             No clues on the rest of pictures

 Day 86: 26th April 1947 Captain's Diary Nothing much to report as the ship is sailing to its first stop at St Helena on the 29th April on the voyage home. Captain says " at 1900 Nigeria opened out to 10 miles astern for a radar test" Postal cover dated the 21st April and 11th March they look very similar at first glance but the first one has both British Flags only where as the second one the British Flags are flanked by the South African flag. The Johannesburg Star Newspaper on the 26th April had 2 articles about the Royal Visit. First picture of the Royal family on the Farewell Luncheon on the 24th April Some photos from the personal collection of Electrician Mr Niehaus. They are all probably taken in Cape Town before the Royal Train left for the Tour.

 Day 85: 25th April 1947 Captains Diary- whoops he forgot to make any entry for today! This is the Captain's Diary in full for the 24th April 1947 Another postal cover with the word "First" altered to "Last".   The Escort ship for the first part of the trip home was HMS Nigeria HMS Nigeria was very busy during World War 11 and details can be found here  HMS Nigeria, British light cruiser, WW2 (naval-history.net) This is how HMS Nigeria first of all became based in South Africa and its history thereafter HMS NIGERIA remained in full commission on return to UK from East Indies in 1945. Between 1946 and   1950 she served as Flagship, South Atlantic based at  Simonstown .  After paying off in 1951 she was placed in   Reserve and three years later purchased by the Indian government.  This ship was extensively refitted before   recommissioning into the RIN as IS MYSORE in 1957. Following Fleet duties until 1975 she was used as a training ship for s...

 Day 84: 24th April 1947 Programme 12.30pm State Luncheon at the City Hall . 3.30pm Arrival of the Royal Party at the Docks and the King inspects guard of Honour 3.50pm Royal Party board HMS Vanguard 4.00pm HMS Vanguard weighs anchor and sets sail with escort. Postal Covers to celebrate the Royal Visit on the last day of the visit on 24th April Two more covers which show the same cover design, but one has a Royal Postmark the other a Cape Town mark. Some pictures of the final day Some pictures from the magazines The Farewell wave to South Africa by Royal Family HMS Vanguard being pulled by tugs leaving Cape Town This is the last day of the Tour now the sail back. I hope to keep you engaged with some more pictures, information and the most valuable philatelic item I have still to come until they arrive back at Buckingham Palace on the 12th May.