75th Anniversary of Royal Tour to South Africa in 1947

 Day 83: 23rd April 1947 Programme 10.25am The Royal Party leave Government House for morning tea at Cape Town Castle 12.00pm Princess Elizabeth attends Girl Guides Rally at Rosebank Show Grounds 4.00pm Farewell Garden Party for the Royal Family at Leeuwenhof. Postal Covers for the 23rd April 1947 the 1st one is showing the Kings Flight postal franking. 2nd one showing another Captain's franking Pictures from the top of Table Mountain Farewell Garden Party to Royal Family at Leeuwenhof. The picture of HMS Vanguard with the last night's firework display HMS Vanguard The Captain tells of a farewell visit by the Mayor and Town Clerk in the evening and they presented him with a Silver Salver.

 Day 82: 22nd April 1947 Programme 10.40am Conferring of Degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa upon her her Majesty the Queen by Cape Town University Postal Cover for the 22nd April 1947 Pictures from the University as the Queen received her degree The King has a meeting with the Cabinet with Prime Minister Field Marshall Smuts and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr J H Hofmeyr The invite below suggests that the Ships Captain has sent out the invite but interestingly the Captain does not mention the party in his diary!

 Day 81: 21st April 1947 HRH Princess Elizabeth is 21 today. She makes her first radio broadcast to the Commonwealth. The Crown: Princess Elizabeth's 21st Birthday Speech (1947) | British Pathé - Bing video Programme 10.30am Informal visit by Royal Party to top of Table Mountain by Cableway 3.00pm  Review of Troops, Ex servicemen and cadets at Youngs Field by Princess Elizabeth 4.30pm Princess Elizabeth attended a youth rally at Rosebank Show Grounds 7.45pm Royal Family dine privately with The Governor and his wife at Westbrooke. 8.30pm Fireworks display at Eastern Mole in the Dock area. 9.00pm Civic Ball at the City Hall in honour of Princess Elizabeth's 21st Birthday 9.45pm Ball at Government House Telegram envelope addressed to Princess Elizabeth in Cape Town it may have been a 21st Birthday greeting? No Official First Day Cover but several commercial covers produced to celebrate  Princess Elizabeth's 21st Birthday. Although the pictures were taken earlier and I displa...

 Day 80: 20th April 1947 This is a Sunday Programme 10.00am The Royal Train rolls into Cape Town. Informal attendance of Royal Party to Divine service at St.George's Cathedral Royal Family take up residence in Government House again until they leave on the 24th April It was reported that the Royal Tour had travelled 5660 miles in South Africa and 1284 in Southern Rhodesia. Postal Cover  for the 20th April 1947 Invite to witness the arrival at Cape Town of the Royal Train A picture of Princess Elizabeth released today ready for her 21st Birthday next day

 Day 79: 19th April 1947 Programme 10.00am Arrive Beaufort West 10.30am Depart Beaufort West Train travels on to Cape Town Postal Cover for the 19th April 1947 Letter and postal cover for the 19th April 1947 The letter below is in Afrikaans and translates as : Dearest Dassie, Please keep this letter for us. When we go on holiday we will come and fetch it. It was given to me by one of our telegraph operators on the Royal Train. Regards to all with love from Hennie, Geel and Susan Pictures from magazines are shown below. Picture of the Royal Train crossing the River Groote near Laingsburg. The picture is from South African Railways booklet. Letter sent by the Captain from HMS Vanguard with special postmark HMS Vanguard  The Captain reports that the ship slipped its berth at 0930 hours and moved one ships berth in order to improve the spectators view for the fireworks on HRH Princess Elizabeth's coming Birthday

 Day 78: 18th April 1947 Programme 10.00am arrive Kimberley 16.00pm leave Kimberley Postal Cover for today the 18th April 1947 with the special Official Free cancellation Postal Cover dated 18th but has the Mafeking post mark. Information on Kimberley Pictures from Kimberley mainly focus on the visit to De Beers Consolidated Mines and gifts of Diamonds to the two Princesses. The visit to the big hole mine which was closed at the time of the visit  De Beers produced a booklet after the visit and here are some of pages from it.                                            Another view of the big hole                 Diagram of Big Hole Some of the diamonds shown to the Royal Family Another couple of pictures of the visit from the papers Some more postal covers for the 18th April 1947