Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip waving

January 1954

Photographs taken by my late father Pete Basire of the first visit by a Reigning British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, to New Zealand, Christchurch 18 -22 January 1954. Photo taken of the Royal Couple, on route to one of their many official engagements, maybe an evening event given the car’s convertible roof is not folded down, as it is in the other photos.

Contributor’s note: Large crowds enthusiastically greeted the royal couple at every opportunity. official events included; Civic reception in Cathedral Square, a ceremonial drive, Civic dinner, Civic Theatre, Civic garden party, Christchurch Cathedral, Investiture, the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington, the Duke’s address to and luncheon with Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Visits included; the Hospital Disabled Servicemen’s Training Centre, Lane Walker Rudkin Factory.

Creator: Peter Basire

Area: Other / Unknown

Contributor: Barbara Newcombe

Source: Entry in the 2022 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt

Source: View in canterburystories.nz

Reference ID: CCL-PH22-231

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

Copyright status: In copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License