18 March 1954   The Royal Visit

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived for their first visit to South Australia on Thursday, 18 March 1954. Some 200,000 people lined the route from the Parafield Airport, where they were met by the Premier, Tom Playford, to Government House.

In 1952 the people of Australia had been disappointed when the visit of the then Princess Elizabeth was prevented by the death of her father, King George VI, while she was en route to the country, and she had to return to London. This time she came as reigning monarch and was greeted enthusiastically by huge crowds everywhere.

On Friday, 19 March, the Royal Progress through Adelaide was attended by an estimated 300,000 people. In the afternoon the Royal couple were taken to the races at Morpettville and to the Adelaide Oval for a cricket match between country teams. During the following week the Royal couple visited Whyalla and Port Lincoln, saw children gathered at the Wayville Showgrounds, visited Renmark, and the Queen opened Parliament.

The newspapers were full of the Royal visit and for the week the Royals were here their activities dominated the scene.

Advertiser, 19 March 1954.