Our Will & Pleasure

Programme. Civic reception to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh … 26th January 1954. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, [1954].

As noted in cases 11 and 12, the 1953–1954 royal tour made by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the first such visit by a British royal since the Duke of Gloucester in the mid 1930s. The royal couple stayed three days in Dunedin, where the Octagon was decorated with a floral arch of a quarter-of-a-million blooms, and other floral displays, created by women's organisations, adorn all the shops. Among the events were a civic reception held by Mayor L. M. Wright; a sports meet at Carisbrook attended by 35,000 spectators; a concert featuring English music associated with the royal family performed by the pianist Richard Farrell (1926–1958) with the National Orchestra; and a visit to the Truby King Harris Karitane Hospital, which was located in Andersons Bay.

The Queen has visited New Zealand nine times since her first trip in the mid 1950s, with the last coming in 2002.

Programme. Civic reception to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh … 26th January 1954. Dunedin: Dunedin City Council, [1954].
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The royal visit; Otago Daily Times supplement, January 1954. Dunedin: Otago Daily Times, [1954].

The royal visit; Otago Daily Times supplement, January 1954. Dunedin: Otago Daily Times, [1954].
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Souvenir programme; royal sports meeting Carisbrook 1954. Dunedin: Printed by Stewart Smith & Hall, [1954].

Souvenir programme; royal sports meeting Carisbrook 1954. Dunedin: Printed by Stewart Smith & Hall, [1954].
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Invitation to a reception in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, issued to the City Librarian, Ada Fache, 27 January 1954.

Invitation to a reception in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, issued to the City Librarian, Ada Fache, 27 January 1954.
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Ephemera relating to the farewell ball for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh: one admission card, two tickets to the first and second suppers, and the booklet which enclosed the tickets, 27 January 1954.

Ephemera relating to the farewell ball for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh: one admission card, two tickets to the first and second suppers, and the booklet which enclosed the tickets, 27 January 1954.
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