P. M. 8/ 1965
EMBARGO NOT TO BE PUBLISHED, CABLZD, BORADOAST OR TELECAST
BEFORE 11.00 P. M. ON MONDAY, 25TH JANUARY 190 6 5/ 010,
FOR PRESS VISIT BY HIS ROVAL HIGHNESS, THE DUKE-OF EDINBURGH
Statement by The Acting Prime Minister, The Right Hon. J. McEWEN, MP.
The Acting Prime Minister announced to-day that His
Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh would open the Royal
Australian Mint in Canberra on Monday, 22nd February. Mr. Mc~ wen
said that the Government was extremely pleased that His Royal
Highness had agreed to include this as one of his engagements
while in the National Capital.
The Duke of Edinburgh is Chairman of the Royal Mint
Advisory Committee in London and takes a keen interest in that
Committee. The opening of the Mint will be the only public
engagement which His Royal Highness will undertake in Canberra.
He will, however, attend Divine Service at St. John's Church, Reid,
on Sunday, 21st February and in the evening will dine at ' The
Lodge' with the Prime Minister and Dame Pattie Menzies.
0 After opening the Mint on Monday morning, His Royal
Highness will attend a luncheon at Parliament House to which the
Ministry, the Presiding Officers of Parliament and the Opposition
Leaders will be invited.
. Mr. McEwen said that His Royal Highness will arrive in
Australia on Saturday morning, 20th February and travel from Sydney
Air-port to Canberra by R. A. A. F. Viscount. He will return to
Sydney on Monday afternoon, 22nd February and leave for Singapore
So../ 2,
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on Friday, 26th Februiary.
Mr. Mco6wen said that the primary purpose of The Duke's
visit is to deliver the first Dunrossil Memorial Lecture to the
Institution of Radio and Electronics Engineers in Sydney. While
it would be disappointing to some that The Duke of Edinburgh would
not be able to visit all States, Mr. McEwen said that all AustralJaam
would be delighted that His Royal Highness would be here to deliver
a Lecture named after a former Governor-General who in his
tragically short term of office had won a lasting place in the
Nation's affections.
Background Note
The announcement of the programme of engagements which
His Royal Highness will undertake in Sydney will be announced
separately by the Premier of New South Wales.