Many readers may be aware of, or even remember the visits made to Ashburton by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, the first being during their 1953-54 tour, and a short visit which they also made in 1981. While these occasions were memorable for the many people who watched and greeted the Royal couple, these are of course not the only times that Ashburton has had the pleasure of hosting famous or important individuals.
On 25 June 1901, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, then-future king George V and Queen Mary, visited Ashburton as part of their eight-month global tour following the death of Queen Victoria. The Duke and Duchess toured across the British Empire, which at the time included Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius (now the Republic of Mauritius), South Africa, and Canada.
The Ashburton Guardian reported on the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York’s visit to Ashburton, during which a great crowd assembled to greet and cheer on the Duke and Duchess. Let’s look at how Ashburton greeted the Royal family way back in 1901.
Royalty arrives in Ashburton
According to the Guardian, on the morning of 25 June 1901, people had been gathering in droves all around the railway station and post office several hours before the Duke and Duchess were due to arrive in Ashburton. Bunting and flags were hung from the post office tower, the Borough Council offices, and many other buildings in town.
A collection of prominent townsfolk had congregated on the station platform, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to greet the Duke and Duchess and welcome them to Ashburton. These people included Hugo Friedlander, the former mayor, as well as Mayor William Henry Collins, their wives, a number of Borough Councillors, and at least three Reverends.
At ten past eleven that morning, the pilot train arrived which carried the Government guests, officials, and a portion of the Royal staff. Fifteen minutes later, the Royal train arrived at the Ashburton station. The Mayor and his wife were immediately introduced to the Duke and Duchess by Lord Ranfurly, and then the Mayor’s daughter, Nellie Collins, presented a bouquet to the Duchess. After this, the Mayor read a short address:
“As loyal subjects of our most gracious King, we, the Councillors and citizens of this town and district, most heartily welcome your Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall and York, and we earnestly pray that Almighty God may ever guard your Royal Highnesses from all harm.”
Ashburtonians out in force
According to the Guardian, the crowd that had amassed in Ashburton that day totalled between four and five thousand people. Many of these were local schoolchildren, and while some of whom impressed the royal visitors by singing a verse of the national anthem, one child in particular caught the attention of the Duchess and the Countess of Ranfurly:
“One young child who was crying attracted the attention of the Countess of Ranfurly, and she endeavoured to console the little person, and the Duchess noticing the incident also stepped over and kindly used her efforts at pacification.”
Other efforts made by the people of Ashburton to impress the Royals included the assembly of a guard of honour, which was formed by the Ashburton Guards and the Ashburton Rifles, under Captains Dolman and Sparrow, and the Ashburton Mounted Rifles were also mustered in the adjoining street.
The Duke and Duchess only stayed at the station for about fifteen minutes, after which, once the train was ready to carry on, they stood on the platform of their carriage and waved at onlookers as they steamed off down the railway line to their next destination. According to the Guardian, “the whole of the eastern side of the line almost to the bridge was occupied by onlookers, and as the train’s progress was made very slow all had a chance of seeing the Duke and Duchess who bowed their acknowledgements of the cheers that were given as they passed.”
Then and now
Nine years later, on 6 May 1910, George F. E. A., the Duke of Cornwall and York, became King George V of the United Kingdom and Dominions, and Emperor of India. His wife the Duchess, Mary of Teck, became Queen Mary and Empress of India. Over a hundred years later, our world has become a very different place, and it can be mind-boggling – even alarming – to look back on the power structures that once existed, not to mention the justifications for them, and the modern remnants of colonialism and imperialism. We have the Commonwealth instead of the British Empire, and surprisingly after having endured numerous minor and major shake-ups, including the abdication of Edward VIII, the Royal family is still standing.
However, its place in the world is very different today when compared to what it was back in 1901. Many Commonwealth countries have become Republics, the newest of which having been Barbados last year. With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, who knows how many more countries whose Head of State is the Sovereign will follow in Barbados’ footsteps? Will Australia or New Zealand be next? It’s an interesting thought.
By Connor Lysaght
Unless otherwise stated, photographs and research materials on this page are owned by the Ashburton Museum & Historical Society Inc. This post was modified for this blog and was originally published in the Ashburton Guardian, 31 December 2022.
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