PM Transcripts

FOR PPRESS: PM. No. 48/ 1972
VISIT BY PRINCESS fMARGARET
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. William
McMahon, M. P.
The following statement has been released from Kensington
Palace today:-" The Princess Nargaret Countess of Snowdon and the
Earl of Snowdon have accepted with very much pleasure
invitations from the Australian Government and the
State Government of Western Australia to visit Western
Australia in October next.
Her Royal Highness has not before visited Australia
and is expected to spend about a week in Western
Australia following her visit to the Seychelles".
The Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon are expected
to arrive in Perth in the early part of the second week of October.
Consultations will now take place to prepare a programme of
engagements for the visit and these details will be publicly
announced when an approved programme has been decided.
The Princess Margaret has always had a high place in the
affections of the Australian people and her visit with her husband
will be widely and warmly welcomed. I am delighted that they are
able to come.
From among her many interests in Au3tralia, the Princess is
Colonl-in-Chief of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps,
President of the Girl Guides' Association, the Dr. Barnardo's Homes
and the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, and Grand
President of the St. John Association and Drigade.
There will be disappointment that the visit by Her Royal
Highness and her husband will not extend beyond Western Australia.
But as is well known, the pattern in recent years has been to aim
for shorter and less formal Royal Visits.
CANBERRA, 14 May, 1972.