Magazine Article – Princess Alexandra Visit 1971

ROYAL VISITORS IN NAPIER AND HASTINGS

Pictures: Staff Photographers

Princess Alexandra, all in blue, ascending the stairs of a packed grandstand at the Hastings racecourse where the Royal visitors saw the running of the Princess Alexandra Gold Cup.

In presenting the Princess Alexandra Gold Cup to the owners of Suttle, the Princess said: “I’d just like to congratulate the owners and say that my husband picked the winner.” Lady Wattie is next to Mr Ogilvy. On the right are the owners, Messrs M. D. Williams and A. R. Dunn, jockey, Garry Willetts, and trainer, W. C. Winder.

Mr Ogilvy down on his haunches to inspect Maori basket-making techniques during the animated village displays in the Planetarium Building in Napier.

Mr Ogilvy entering the passenger’s seat of a 30-year-old Tiger Moth topdressing plane for a brief and unscheduled flight over Brooklands station, near Napier. The plane was flown by topdressing pilot, Mr Chris Pask.

A treasured moment for Mrs R. Clark, of Napier, aged 85, when the Princess and Mr Ogilvy stopped to chat with her while they were walking along the Marine Parade.

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Above: Princess Alexandra meeting school children during her walk along the Marine Parade soon after arriving in Napier.

Below: Mr Ogilvy trying his hand at tenpin bowling on an open-air “alley”, a bowling green close to the Marine Parade.

Above: The Princess meeting Maoris who took part in the Maori welcome at the Sound Shell on the Marine Parade.

Below: Princess Alexandra feeling the grip and the weight of the tenpin bowl after her husband had demonstrated his skill on the green.

Riding over the paddocks on Brooklands station, a sheep farm near Napier.  Accompanying the Princess and Mr Ogilvy is the station manager, Mr C. Metekingi.

Princess Alexandra talking to the children of farm workers outside the woolshed on Mr L. E. Harris’ Brooklands station.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HAWKES BAY VISIT

Pictures: Staff Photographers

Left: The Princess hand-feeding a leaping dolphin, watched by her husband and the Mayor and Mayoress of Napier, Mr and Mrs P. Tait, at Marineland, an aquatic mammals pool on Marine Parade.

Above: The performing sea lion, “Flash”, presenting a bouquet to Princess Alexandra on the arrival of Her Royal Highness at Marineland to watch the trained aquatic mammals go through their acts.

The Princess found hundreds of young friends and admirers in the large groups of Hawkes Bay school children assembled in McLean Park, Napier. Her Royal Highness is seen with children from Henry Hill primary school, many of them patriotically waving flags.

Not everyone can claim to have been pecked on the hand by a kiwi, but this happened to Princess Alexandra after the president of the Hawkes Bay Wildlife Trust, Mr E. Eaton, brought forward a kiwi at Napier. Between the Princess and Mr Ogilvy is the Mayoress, Mrs Tait.

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