Our Will & Pleasure

Programme of Celebrations During the Visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to New Zealand: from the 11th to the 28th June, 1901. Wellington: Government Printer, 1901.

The library’s ephemera collection includes a number of souvenir pamphlets and other printings related to royal visits to New Zealand, and Dunedin specifically. The earliest on display, however, relates to the second ever visit by a British royal, that of Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York (1865–1936), and second son of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

The visit, part of an Empire tour, followed the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament in Australia, and was a tribute to the response made throughout the Empire during the Boer War. The Duke's commission had just been signed when Queen Victoria died; nevertheless it was decided that the tour should still take place.

Programme of Celebrations During the Visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to New Zealand: from the 11th to the 28th June, 1901. Wellington: Government Printer, 1901.
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Official souvenir programme; H.R.H. the Prince of Wales … visit to Dunedin, May 1920. Dunedin: Dunedin City Corporation, printed by J. Wilkie & Co. Ltd., [1920].

When addressing the Imperial War Conference in 1917, and again at the conference of overseas Prime Ministers the following year, George V had foreshadowed the visit to the Dominions of his eldest son (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, Prince of Wales) ‘when peace comes’. The matter was discussed more than once in the ensuing months until finally, on 3 January 1920, the Secretary of State for the Colonies cabled the Governor-General confirming an early visit.

Official souvenir programme; H.R.H. the Prince of Wales … visit to Dunedin, May 1920. Dunedin: Dunedin City Corporation, printed by J. Wilkie & Co. Ltd., [1920].
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Invitation. ‘Citizens’ Ball in honour of the visit to Dunedin of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; Art Gallery Hall … 17th May, 1920’.

Invitation. ‘Citizens’ Ball in honour of the visit to Dunedin of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; Art Gallery Hall … 17th May, 1920’.
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Official souvenir programme; Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York visit to Dunedin, March 16.19 1927. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, printed by Otago Daily Times Print, [1927].

The next royal visitors were Prince Albert, Duke of York (1895–1952), and Lady Elizabeth, the Duchess of York (1900–2002). The Dunedin programme included the unveiling of the war memorial and the opening of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in Logan Park. On the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, the Duke and Duchess came to the throne as George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Official souvenir programme; Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York visit to Dunedin, March 16.19 1927. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, printed by Otago Daily Times Print, [1927].
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Official souvenir programme; visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester to Dunedin, Jan. 10, 11 & 12 1935. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, printed by Otago Daily Times Print, [1935].

After a visit to Australia, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1900–1974), arrived at Wellington on board the HMAS Australia on 15 December 1934. A decade later he returned to the Antipodes as Governor-General of Australia in 1944. Prince Henry was the last royal to visit New Zealand until the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

Official souvenir programme; visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester to Dunedin, Jan. 10, 11 & 12 1935. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, printed by Otago Daily Times Print, [1935].
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