1983: The last great royal tour
Good morning neighbours, an old gem for you...
Around 20,000 people came out to watch the Prince and Princess of Wales do a walkabout in Cathedral Square on April 28, 1983, despite “chilly, intermittent and penetrating rain”, but The Press also wondered if royal tours were approaching their use-by date.
The tone of the paper’s editorial was very different from that struck 30 years earlier, when the Queen toured.
“Rapid communications and travel have removed much of the novelty from Royal appearances in New Zealand,” The Press said. “The charm and interest remain enhanced this time by the presence of the future Queen, Princess Diana, and the baby who could some day be King William V.”
The Press looked into the future: “Before the end of the century Prince Charles can probably expect to be King Charles III. His son, at present in Auckland, may well still be on the throne in the unimaginable world of the year 2050.
“Although New Zealand has not the vigorous republican movement evident in Australia, the question is reasonably asked here whether an hereditary monarch, living 12,000 miles away, will continue to be the most appropriate head of State for New Zealand.”
Despite this, every move was still recorded and star power was very evident, as The Press reported.
“A faint touch of blue shone through the clouds about 10 minutes before the end of the walkabout. It highlighted the Princess’ hair and brought favourable comments from a cluster of young girls.
“Many people were surprised at how tall and slender the Princess is. ‘Her face is thinner than I expected, but much prettier,’ said one woman.
“The glowing natural complexion of the Princess needed little highlight, just a glimmer of gold eye-shadow, a touch of mascara, and a subtle lip-colouring.”
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World Beyond War CULTURE OF PEACE Art Exhibition 20 to 25 January
World Beyond War Te Waipounamu South Island
Aotearoa New Zealand
Invite you to
A Culture of Peace Art Exhibition
At Pūmanawa Level 1 (lift available)
Arts Centre Worcester Street
Tuesday 20 January 12.30 pm to 4pm
Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 January 10.00am to 4pm
Art works and some World Beyond War merchandise for sale
Koha Appreciated
Contact: twpnz@worldbeyondwar.org
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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87.8% Yes
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12.2% No
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