NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST BEFORE SUNDAY, 6 FEB. 22
FOR PRESS: P.M. 5/1959
ROYAL VISIT: APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR GENERAL
Statement by the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, announced today that Mr. W.R. CUMMIING, C.V.O., Assistant Secretary, Prime Minister Department, would be Director-General of the visit to Australia Later this year by Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Ken, Mr. Cumming has had considerable experience in the planning of visits to Australia by members of the Royal Family.
He was Director of the visit to the A.C.T. of Her Majesty the Queen, in 1954.
He was Joint Director of the Australian visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1956.
He was Executive Officer of the Commonwealth organisation which arranged the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in 1958; and was the Director for her visit to the A.C.T.
It is expected that Mr. Cumming will leave for London early in April to discuss with Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra know the details of her visit. When discussing the Queensland portion of the programme Mr. Cummins will be joined by the Agent Genera for Queensland, Mr. Muir.
Mr. Cumming is a Queenslander who spent his early life in Southeast Queensland. His parents are now living in Brisbane. He is a graduate of the Universities of Queensland and Sydney.
Her Royal Highness will arrive in Australia on the 15th August and leave about the 26th September. She will spend three weeks of her six-week stay in Queensland attending that State's Centenary celebrations.
CANBERRA, A.C.T.
22nd February 1959.