["History of the Visit", The West Australian, Monday 22 July 1901, page 3]
HISTORY OF THE VISIT.
On September 18, 1900, a Royal Proclamation, under the sign manual of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, was issued, conveying the official notification of the approaching consummation of the new Commonwealth. "On and after January 1 next," it ran, "the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia shall be united in a Federal Commonwealth, under the name of the Federal Commonwealth of Australia." With what celebrations the entire Kingdom beyond the seas commemorated the birth of the new nation on the natal day of the new century everyone is acquainted. Never before in the history of the colonial dependencies in the Empire had an historic event of similar national importance been welcomed with greater and more universal rejoicings. All Australia combined to do it honour, and from places outside the Commonwealth came congratulations, warm, hearty, and sincere, while the other daughter-lands of the great mother-Kingdom welcomed with all the affection of kinship the birth of their youngest sister nation. A prominent note in all the festivities was found in the homage which the new nation did to its revered Sovereign, and when loyalty loosened the tongues of men, and they spoke of their loyal mistress, not the least in their recognitions of her love for her subjects was their appreciation of the fact that she has consented to her grandson--the future King--visiting Australia during the year to inaugurate the great Council of State which was to be opened in Melbourne in the following May. For on the day preceding, the promulgation of the Royal Proclamation, namely, September 17, there was issued from the Colonial Office in London, by order of Queen Victoria, an announcement that the Duke and Duchess of York would visit Australia the following year and open the Parliament of the Commonwealth: "Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to assent, on the recommendation of the Marquis of Salisbury, to the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, to the colonies of Australia in the spring of next year. Although the Queen naturally shrinks from parting with her grandson for so long a period, Her Majesty fully recognises the greatness of the occasion which will bring her colonies of Australia into Federal union, and desires to give this special proof of her interest in all that concerns the welfare of her Australian subjects. Her Majesty, at the same time, wishes to signify her sense of the loyalty and devotion which have prompted the spontaneous aid so liberally offered by the colonies in the South African war, and of the splendid gallantry of her colonial troops. Her Majesty's assent to this visit is, of course, given on the assumption that at the time fixed for the Duke of York's departure the circumstances are as, favourable as at present, and that no national interests call for His Royal Highness's presence in this country.
Throughout the Empire, but one opinion was expressed of the announcement, and it could not be better put into words than those used by the "Times," when, commenting upon the Queen's decision, it said:--
"It is eminently fitting that so great a step in the development of the Empire as the union of the Australian colonies should be marked by some signal act of Royal grace and favor. Her Majesty, with her unerring sense of the spirit of the Constitution, and the feelings of her people in which that spirit has its roots, bas decided to grant to her Australian jubjects on this occasion, memorable alike in their history and in ours, such a token of goodwill and affection as they themselves would most desire, and as will commend itself to the hearty approval of their fellow subjects throughout the Empire. It is a good augury for the new nation, reared by men of British blood in the distant Pacific, that the new Con stitution that they moulded with so much skill and patience for themselves, and for their children's children, on the models inherited from our common forefathers, should enter into life under the immediate auspices of the Prince who, in the natural order of events, will one day ascend the English throne."
By no part of the Empire was this feeling more strongly experienced than in Australasia, and throughout the length and breadth of the great continent and its adjacent island colonies the proposed visit was regarded with immeasured enthusiasm. But while the expectations of the people ran high, and plans were already under discussion for giving the Duke and Duchess a fitting welcome, there came the melancholy news of the death of her whom the nation loved, and in the state of mourning into which the whole nation was plunged, it seemed probable that the proposed visit must of necessity be abandoned. The probability as it then seemed of the people's hopes being disappointed was increased by the fact that the Duke had been attacked by a form of German measles, and, although the attack was not serious, and under the careful treatment of his skilled physicians he soon recovered, the likelihood of the visit taking place seemed but slight. However, King Edward decided otherwise. The tour had received the sanction of the late Queen, and had been hailed with intense satisfaction by the Australian people, and His Majesty determined that his private grief should not have first consideration where what duty in the observance of Queen Victoria's wish was concerned. On February 10, of this year, the following cablegram was received by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, and transmitted tc the States:--
"His Majesty the King has decided that the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Australia for the opening of the first session of the Federal Parliament should take place. The desire of Her late Majesty to mark the greatness of the occasion, and her sense of the loyalty and devotion which prompted the generous aid afforded by all the colonies in the South African war, and the splendid gallantly of her colonial troops, is fully shared by His Majesty, who desires also to signify his heartfelt gratitude for the warm sympathy with nimself and the memhbers of the Royal Family in the loss they have sustained by the death of his beloved mother which has been exhibited by his subjects in the colonies. His Majesty is confident that in the arrangements for the reception of their Royal Highnesses his people will not fail to recognise duly the sad circumstances in which the visit will take place."
The strong devotion to filial and public duty which had thus determined His Majesty to this step was warmly appreciated by his grateful subjects in Australia, and in the arrangements which were made for opening the Federal Parliament, the national pride justly felt in the great Council of the Commonwealth was intensified by the thought that it was to be opened by the future King, with all the pomp and circumstance attendant upon the Royal visit.
The Orient liner Ophir was especially placed in commission to bear the Duke and Duchess, and the members of their household, to Australia, and a strong convoy of warships was commissioned to accompany the Ophir, for the protection of the Royal travellers. The Ophir was fitted up in regal style, and converted in to perfect floating palace. On March 16 the King and Queen, with the Duke and Duchess, travelled to Portsmouth and slept on board the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, and the next day the Ophir with her protectors, sailed out of British waters. Immediately prior to her departure, the King, who was profoundly touched at parting with his son, addressed a large gathering of illustrious guests who had assembled on board to bid farewell to the Duke and Duchess. His Majesty, in proposing their health, wished them a safe and happy return, remarked that the Duke, in undertaking this voyage, was discharging a national duty, and testifying now greatly the King and nation appreciated the splendid practical loyalty of the colonies. The Duke, in proposing the toast of the King, thanked His Majesty for according him permission to undertake so interesting a voyage. Shortly before the King and Queen and the Duke and Duchess went aboard the Alberta, the ships in harbour were dressed, and saluted them. The Ophir started on her memorable voyage amid a tremendous burst of cheering, to which the Duke and Duchess, who stood on the hurricane deck repeatedly bowed their acknowledgments.
It is not necessary to enter into lengthy details of the voyage to Australia and the events which followed upon the arrival of the Royal visitors in the Commonwealth. Gibraltar was made an March 21, and four days later Malta was reached. The end of the month witness ed the arrival at Port Said, and on April 1 Suez was entered. At Aden, which was reached on April 5, the Duke performed the first of the ceremonies of presenting the soldiers who had served in Soutu Africa with war medals. Exactly a week later the Ophir arrived at Colombo, and nine days afterwards at Singapore. At all these places, save Gibraltar, where the weather was too unfavourable to admit of it, the Royal visitors were entertained with unstinted hospitality, and amid the most enrhusiastic scenes of welcome. Singapore was the last part touched before Australian waters were reached. To Albany belongs the distinction of being the first of the Australian ports touched at by the Ophir This was on April 30. The Duke and Duchess did not come on shore however, but remained on board the Ophir during its stay in the harbour. Sir Arthur Lawley, who had voyaged from England with their Royal Highnesses, came ashore, and, proceeding to Perth by train, assumed the office of Governor of Western Australia. The Ophir left for Melbourne on May 1, and entered Port Phillip on the 5th, a day before its time, and was received by the Australian Squadron with the customary formalities. The following day the visitors landed at St. Kilda Pier, and were received by the Governor-General and a large and brillian gathering of the leading people of Victoria.
From the time of landing till their departure on the 18th, Melbourne was en fete. The Duke opened the Federal Parliament on the 9th, amid truly regal pomp and ceremonial, in the presence of a most distinguished assemblage of persons from all parts of Australasia and of representatives of other colonies and European and American nations. That day, and nearly every other day of the visit, were marked by a round of functions such as had never before been witnessed in Melbourne. Each of these was thronged with guests and spectators, and never had the streets witnessed day by day such a vast concourse of people. The decorations of the city by day, and its illumination by night, were carried out upon a scale of almost limitless magnificence, and if Sydney stood pre-eminent among the Australian capitals in the rejoicings which took place over the inauguration of the Commonwealth on New Year's Day, Melbourne was said to have at least equalled her in pride of place, when welcoming the illustrious visitors who had voyaged from England in order that, the opening of the Parliament of that Commonwealth should be distinguished with regal splendour and ceremony. Queensland was next on the Royal itinerary, and was reached on the 20th. There, for three days, the people of that State held high festival in Brisbane, and each day was growded with functions, attended by vast crowds af people. On the 25th the visitors arrived in Sydney, and there, for nearly a fortnight. a series of entertainments and functions took place in honour of their Royal Highnesses visit. The city was crowded with people, and the guests present at the different functions and entertainments vied in number and importance with those who had daily welcomed the Duke and Duchess in Melbourne. The decorations and illuminations surpassed those of Commonwealth hay, and the enthusiasm and delight of the people was unbounded.
On June 6, their Royal Highnesses left for New Zealand, which they reached on the 10th. There they remained for upwards of two weeks, visiting several of the most important cities, and meeting everywhere with the utmost loyalty and hospitality from the Governor and officials and the people of that colony. On the 2nd inst., the visitors arrived in Tasmania, where four days were spent in a round of functions, carried out with the utmost enthusiasm by the people of the island State. On the 6th. a departure was made for Adelaide, which was reached late on the 8th. There, for a week, their Royal High nesses were entertained at a series of functions, marked by the loyal and enthusiastic regard of the South Australians, who crowded into the city to do honour to their future King and Queen. On Monday last the Ophir left Adelaide for Western Australia. On Thursday the vessel was sighted off Albany, and it was expected that she would make Fremantle late on Friday night or early on Saturday morning. To the intense disappointment of the people who thronged the streets on Saturday morning, to bid a loyal and loving welcome to the Royal visitors, these anticipations were not realised, and it was learned that owing to the inclemency of the weather and the rough state of the seas, it was thought advisable to put back to Albany, which the Ophir reached that morning. For the same reasons it was decided that instead of coming round to Fremantle in the Ophir, the journey to Perth should be undertaken by rail, and during the same day the Royal train, in the charge of Mr. John Davies, General Manager of Railways, was despatched to Albany for the purpose of conveying their Royal Highnesses to the capital on Sunday, their arrival being timed to take place late yesterday night, It was also decided that the journey hither should be strictly private, and that none of the functions arranged for the celebration of the Royal visit should take place until to-day.
