Queen and Commonwealth – The Royal Tour

An exhibition on the ‘Queen and Commonwealth - The Royal Tour’ will be held at Buckingham Palace from 26 July to 30 September 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth.

The exhibition will feature a selection of memorabilia dating back to 1952 when Her Majesty The Queen assumed the role of Head of the Commonwealth from her late father, HM King George VI, the first person to hold the title. At the time of her accession, she said: "The Commonwealth... is built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace. To that new conception of an equal partnership of nations and races I shall give myself heart and soul every day of my life."

Fans from Tuvalu, an example of memorabilia from the Royal Collection. Photo courtesy of The Royal Collection

The Queen’s reign began with her longest ever Commonwealth tour which lasted from November 1953 to May 1954, covering the Caribbean, Australasia, Asia and Africa. Among the exhibits on show are items of the Queen’s wardrobe especially designed to include certain references to the country visited, such as the national colours or emblems.

Gifts presented to the Queen by Heads of State and Heads of Government during her visits will also be on display. They are often local handmade items and craftwork such as an Aboriginal carving of a dugong from Australia, totem poles from British Columbia, a carved wooden throne from the King of the Ashanti in Ghana and a silk scarf given to the Queen by President Nelson Mandela in 1995. She has also received pieces of jewellery, including a diamond wattle brooch from the Government and People of Australia during her visit to the country in 1954.

Caroline de Guitaut, Assistant Curator (Works of Art) of The Royal Collection said: “Through the medium of these tours, using gifts, archives, insignia, dresses, jewels, photographs and film footage, the exhibition will represent aspects of the rich diversity of the Commonwealth. The display will be divided into six sections – Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, The Caribbean and Central America, Asia, and Island Peoples and Pacific Realms.

A publication of the exhibits titled The Royal Tour: A Souvenir Album published by the Royal Collection Publications will also be on display and on sale.

Secretariat Links:

• Head of the Commonwealth

Related Websites:

• Queen and Commonwealth: The Royal Tour