Sø 2 APR 1968
FOR PRESS: BRAl
P. M. No. 4/ 163
ROYAL VISIT
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Duke of Edinburgh, who is coming to Australia
in May primarily to attend R. H. The Duke of Edinburgh's Third
Commonwealth Study Conference", has accepted an itinerary which
will take in visits to Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and
Melbourne. The visit will begin with a ceremonial arrival in
Canberra on Saturday 11 May and end on departure from Melbourne
on Tuesday 4 June. It also provides for private weekends to be spent
in Northern New South VWales before and after The Duke of Edinburgh's
visit to New Zealand. The Duke of Edinburgh plans to travel from London
to Australia in an Andover from The Queen's Flight and to use it
for all internal air journeys. It will also be used for the Tasman
crossings when His Royal Highness visits New Zealand ( 20 to 24
May) and for the return journey to Britain.
On the outward journey the Andover, after landing at
Darwin on Friday 10 May to refuel, will go on to Mt. Isa where The
Duke of Edinburgh will remain overnight. He will leave Mt. Isa on
the following morning to arrive at Canberra at 12.30 p. m.
On the homeward journey, His Royal Highness will
travel in the Andover from Melbourne via Alice Springs ' a refueling
stop) to Darwin and stay overnight. Cn the morning of Wednesday
June His :. oyal Highness will leave Darwin en route for London.
The itinerary in outline form is attached.
For Canberra on the first occasion, no formal programme
is planned for The Duke of Edinburgh. But His Royal Highness has
accepted the following programme of engagements on his return to
Canberra from Sydney:-
THURSDAY 16 MAY
Morning Attends the First Session of the Canberra
Meetings of the Third Commonwealth
Study Conference
Lunch V! ith the National Press Club
Afternoon OCens the Forestry School's newv building
at the Australian National University
Later Attends RPeception given by the Government
to Study Conference participants ( Senators
and Members invited)
Dinner At Government House / 2
FRIDAY 17 MAY
Morning Opens the Annual Conference of the Royal
Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia
Lunch With the Canberra Polo Club
Afternoon His ? Royal Highness plays polo
Later Attends s 2eception at Government House
for Study Conference participants
Evening Dines at the Lodge
SATURDAY 18 MAY
Morning Departs for private weekend in the
Quirindi district
This will be for The Duke of Edinburgh, the seventh
occasion on which he has visited Australia and the Australian people
with their very happy recollections of his earlier visits, will welcome
his return for The Third Commonwealth Study Conference of which
he is President. The itinerary which His . Royal Highness has been
pleased to undertake, Includes time in most of the Capital Cities
and the programme of engagements provides opportunities for a
great many citizens in each place to see him. While it would be
disappointing to some that His ?. oyal Highness is not visiting all
States, it wculd be well accepted that The Duke of Edinburgh is not
coming to Australia for the purpose of making a nation-wide tour
but for a specific purpose.
I am pleased indeed that it has been possible to offer
His Royal Highness in the course of his visit, two private weekends
relaxing in the Australian countryside free from official functions.
i
NOTE: The Fremiers of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland
qnd South Australia will each announce the programme of engagements
for the visits to their respective States.
CANBERRA 27 March 1c60