FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.
VISIT OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS MARINA,
DUCHESS OF KENT.
The Prime Minister announced in Canberra tonight
that the following statement had been issued from Kensington
Palace Quote Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, has been
invited by the Government of the Commonwealth
of Australia to visit Australia in the autumn,
and has accepted this invitation with great
pleasure. The Princess will arrive in Australia towards
the end of September, undertake a short visit
to Canberra, and later stay for a few days in
Sydney, where she will visit the British
Exhibition. Unquote.
The Prime Minister said that all Australians would
warmly welcome the news of the proposed visit by Princess
Marina. Princess Marina has had a place in the affections of
the Australian people for many years. Australia had looked
forward to welcoming her in 1938 as the wife of our Governor-
General, but the war and the tragic death of the late Duke of
Kent on active service intervened. The Prime Minister said
that he, personally, knew that Australia and Australian affairs
have been ondt of Her Royal Highness' interests for many years
and, with the memorahle visit to Australia in 1959 of her
daughter, Princess Alexandra, this interest greatly increased.
Princess Marina would be assured of a very warm and sincere
welcome. a .1/ 2.
A 2.
The Prime Minister said he was pleased that
Princess Marina would be able to visit the British Exhibition
in Sydney while she was in Australia.
This will be a comparatively short visit and
Princess Marina will be unable to visit States other than
New South Wales. As is well known, the Prime Minister added,
we have been aimine at short and limited Royal visits so that
they may be more frequent.
Consultations will take place to suggest an
appropriate itinerary for Princess Marina's visit.
CANBERRA. February, 1964.