75th Anniversary of Royal Family Visit to South Africa Day 63

 Day 63: 3rd April 1947

Programme

Flight from Pretoria to Pietersburg (Now called Polokwane, in area of Limpopo)

Polokwane was an old Bantu name for the area and means " the place of rest".

Here is google maps to show area as I was not sure of the location

Maundy Thursday

Flight to Pietersburg in the Northern Transvaal. During the flight the plane carrying the King & Princess Margaret collided with a vulture. 

A letter sent on the 9th April but about the visit on the 3rd April to Pietersburg.( I purchased an Airletter but it got lost in the post).







Postal Cover for the 3rd April 1947



Introduction to Pietersburg


The Royal family drove through 4 miles of cheering crowds and attended many gatherings.

Pictures from a magazine



HMS Vanguard
The Captain reports that the problem he had on the sail down with his feet had flared up again and so he cancelled all on shore visits that were planned for him.
8000 visitors were reported to have come on board the ship and in the evening a detachment of Royal Marines and band did a drill display and beat the retreat in front of the City Hall.


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