In Top

Prince Philip In The Islands He Was In Top Form

From a Special Correspondent in Honia:j

Everyone enjoyed the Roy

Tour not the least of the

Prince Philip himself. In tl

part of the world he was a!

to get away from the bustle;;

fact which he quite clearly s

predated, for he was in top for

easy, relaxed, and interested

everything.

THE reward of people here w that they were able to see hil and talk to him, without havii to fight too hard for the sougli after privilege.

The first day he arrived Honiara, in fact, was almost an am climax. Everybody was keyed up f the visit after months of prepan tions.

Then, on March 19, looking som thing like a storybook prince, stepped ashore, and most peoi forgot to applaud. As the fi:. ceremonies were over and he g into that enclosed car to drive (see opposite) the Melanesia seemed overawed.

Not So Many There were not nearly as maj of them as had been expected, an way, and this, combined with tin. silence—not by any means disrespectful silence—imparted hushed air to that first arriw Prince Philip left the wharf area the sound of a few spasmodic hant claps and cheers, mainly from An tralians on a nearby roof top.

THE PICTURES—Prince Philip's Islands t was noted for its informality, but there w some formal occasions, too. At top, acc[?] panied bv Sir John Gutch, he meets memt of the BSIP Advisory Council and their wi shortly after arriving at Honiara. Then inspected the Girl Guides and Brownies (centi At Bairiki, Tarawa, in the Gilbert and Ell Group, Prince Philip was carried from the wl to the sports field—a quarter of a mile —in a decorated ceremonial chair, accompan by Gilbertese and Ellice dancers. As tower photo indicates, he enjoyed this li bit of formality as much as the hae carriers. More pictures on page 137.

iat was the last anybody saw

bat all-enclosing sedan, thank

ens, and for the rest of his visit /as in a Land Rover. In that, lidn’t worry too much about jcol —he had it stopped when he wanted to see anything, as nstance, when he made a closer action of the Japanese wreck, \yu Maru, on the way to Ruaniu tation.

Didn't See Levers visited Ruaniu, instead of rs as had been planned origin because of the flood damage to Jenderson Field bridge, re are some of the highlights s visit: A.t the Government House re on at Honiara, about 350 in guests filled the rooms—which it that only a handful of ara people missed out.

Dress of the day at the recep was lounge suits for men, but le last minute Prince Philip ided that—coats could be left rhis was welcome, but it made ficult to distinguish the guests, senior Honiara man confused fin Brett Hilder, master of the Tulagi, with Admiral of the , Lord Fraser, and demanded low from Lord Fraser, “Where my personal luggage shipped Sydney?” Another man in d from one of the Duke’s nnia guests, Sir Alexander tham, just-retired Governor of kong, if he were representing J ress. 3 rince Philip picked Australian s at the reception by their

accents To one overawed English eirl w v lQ had been speechless in his oinkum.' .. c *j ” e ia,a urdce • At another reception aboard the Britannia the guests included Bishop Alfred Hill, of the Melanesian Mission and Bishop Stuyvenberg, of “ catholic Mission. When it was time to say grace, the Duke said with a twinkle, “As we have two Bishops with us, ru sayiPJjcemyclive thank God. Amen. Now let us eatm Honiara people noted with interest that those who sail in the Britannia refer to the ship as Bri-TAH-nia. . On his way to visit the King George VI school at Auki, Malaita.

Prince Philip stopped to watch two schoolboy teams at a soccer match minutes for it. , , . • At the school, which obviously impressed him, he asked a prefect w hat one group of buildings was for> T h e overawed prefect explained that the group wasn’t for inspec tion. Said the Duke promptly. “We’ll g 0 a nd have a look just the same!"

There were no skeletons in the cupboard, though.

"This Is Me" • During an official presentation ceremony at the main hall of the King George VI school, Prince philip handed over a portrait of himself to the head prefect, and explained casually, “This is a picture of me.