Harry just the latest in line of royal visitors

IN THE FLESH: Princess Diana and Prince Charles go walkabout in the city in 1983. 240415WCSPWINDSORS1

Prince Harry, who visits Wanganui on May 14, is just the latest royal to include the city on a New Zealand itinerary.

Chronicle reader Tom Cooper brought a wealth of memorabilia into the office recently, tracing royal visits to 1927.

In 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) arrived in Auckland by boat and later travelled to Wanganui, with a civic reception in Cooks Gardens.

Prince Henry William Frederick Albert, Duke of Gloucester and third son of George V and Queen Mary, after a visit to Australia, arrived at Wellington on HMAS Australia on December 15, 1934.

During his stay in Wellington, the duke laid the foundation stone of the new railway station. His route was by rail to Hawke's Bay and then by road through Gisborne and Rotorua to Auckland.

It was the first time royalty had visited Gisborne. He returned via New Plymouth, Hunterville, Marton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa to rejoin his ship at Wellington on January 4, 1935.

At Marton, the duke attended a New Year race meeting and rode T A Duncan's Black Man to come fourth in the Ladies Bracelet, records the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

The Queen visited New Zealand in 1953-54 and on January 8 travelled from Palmerston North to Marton Junction for a public welcome and Wanganui for a civic reception. There was also a public welcome in Ptea and a ceremonial drive in Hwera.

Her youngest son, Prince Edward, was a Wanganui resident in 1982 while a house tutor and junior master for two terms at Wanganui Collegiate School and became a familiar face around town.

Her eldest son, Prince Charles, visited Wanganui with Princess Diana in April 1983. They also visited Prince Edward at Wanganui Collegiate. Edward wore a Maori cloak, for once eclipsing coverage of Diana's attire, wrote Jane Clifton in the Dominion Post. Toddler Prince William, Harry's brother, stayed back at Government House in Wellington.