Thousands of Jamaicans lined the royal route to welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince William for the final lap of their Caribbean tour. Over the four-day visit, the Queen had a packed schedule that saw her calling on the prime minister and other dignitaries.

Published Friday, March 4, 1966

 JAMAICA GREETS THE QUEEN

-Warm welcome for Her Majesty, Prince Phillip

 HER MAJESTY Queen Elizabeth arrived in Jamaica yesterday morning for a four-day visit accompanied by H.R.H. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. It was a bright, full day from sunrise off shore, when the Queen’s yacht Britannia was escorted into Kingston Harbour by a colourful flotilla of local small craft until near midnight under the scintillating fairy lights on the grounds of King’s House, where the official reception was held.

And thousands cheered her on her way from Victoria Pier, where she landed, to Spanish Town and back to King’s House.

Yesterday’s first-day events began the final programmes of a Caribbean tour, which started on February 4, when the Queen arrived in the West Indies from Great Britain. She leaves here on Sunday night from Montego Bay at the end of the tour, which has taken her from British Guiana, through Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Leeward and Windward Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and now to Jamaica.

The Queen’s visit is her first to Jamaica since Independence. She was last here 13 years ago when Jamaica was a colony of the United Kingdom. Now she comes as the Queen of Jamaica, and Jamaicans, young and old, gave her a right royal welcome wherever she appeared yesterday in the packed programme of the visit.

PROCESSION

 The royal yacht Britannia came into Kingston Harbour yesterday in a procession of seacraft, which foreign correspondents said was unprecedented. The Britannia was first sighted off Lime Key at 7 o’clock flanked by a motley but colourful flotilla of private sport and fishing craft, all alive with bunting and flags, the yacht hove into the quiet harbour, dropped anchor, strung with its happy signal flags from stem to stern while flying fish and security frogmen frolicked with the waves.

Both groups - flying fish and frogmen – excited attention while the royal barge made a trial run from the Britannia before the Queen’s arrival.

Then with the guns of the Jamaican Defence Force booming a 21 gun-salute while hosts of Jamaican Coastguard moved about in the restricted channel, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh left the Britannia and rode across the harbour, standing amidship the royal barge in the bright morning sun while seagulls made early calls to each other across the green waves and a helicopter’s beat drew answering responses from a frenzy of fish.

It was a true Jamaican morning and a true Jamaican welcome. And as the guns echoed and the people cheered, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip stepped ashore at 9:30 to be greeted by their excellencies Sir Clifford Campbell, Governor General, and Lady Campbell; the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Donald Sangster; and by the wife of the prime minister, Lady Bustamante while the small craft in the harbour danced and skipped in a picturesque parade behind the royal barge.

Royal visitors were also members of the Cabinet; the leader of the Opposition, Mr Norman Manley, Q.C.; the president of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other persons specially selected to meet the Queen on her arrival, including the chief justice, the president of the Court of Appeal, and the leaders of the Church in Jamaica. The welcome party and their wives made a lively picture on the pier, the military, headed by Brigadier David Smith, chief of staff, in uniforms and regalia, the police in full dress uniforms, a guard of honour, and fashionable dresses worn by the ladies adding full colour to the scene.

The Queen was present at two civic receptions before lunch – one at the King George VI Memorial Park and the other at Spanish Town – but the highlight of yesterday’s first events of the Queen’s visit was the rally put on for Her Majesty by the young people of Jamaica at the National Stadium in the afternoon.

It surpassed anything that had gone on before – the official receptions, the protocol, and the cheering crowds.

The Queen, who had appeared unaccustomed to the bright Jamaica sunlight on her arrival yesterday morning, definitely perked up at the National Stadium in the afternoon. The young people, drawn from the schools of the Corporate Area and just outside of  the Corporate Area, put on a display that would have warmed the cockles of any heart, and there was no doubt that both the Queen and Prince Phillip were delighted by the display. They gave the rally their full attention and led the chorus of appreciation after the various items.

There was only one incident before this that had attracted the royal attention so greatly. That was when the Jamaica Military Band at the George VI Memorial Park played Long Time Gal Me Never See You in dance time. This was the same tune played for the Queen and Prince Philip when they visited here for the first time in 1953, sung by the schoolchildren at Sabina Park.

Thousands of people gathered along the royal route to welcome the Queen and Prince Philip. Helicopters flew overhead along the royal route to watch for traffic jams. Hundreds of policemen lined the route for security reason,  and mingling with the crowd were some 400 security men in plain clothes. But the authorities were not overly concerned; they were just taking precautions.

The day went beautifully so far as the police were concerned. Only one attempt was made at a demonstration when some persons, believed to be members of the Young Socialist League, tried to parade with placards at Torrington Bridge. They were removed by the police before the Queen arrived.

The welcome to Her Majesty in Jamaica yesterday was many-faceted. In the city, it was warm but without jubilation. In Spanish Town, it was vociferous. At the National Stadium, it was positively deafening as the schoolchildren gave vent to their natural exuberant spirits to the delight of both the Queen and Prince Philip.

Yesterday’s events included a visit to Devon House to inspect art and crafts, a press reception at King’s House, a state dinner and a public reception at King’s House.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the royal household stayed the night at King’s House.

Today, the Queen’s main duty will be the opening of the 1966-1967 session of Parliament at 10 o’clock. She will deliver the Throne Speech, which will outline the Government’s programme for the new parliamentary session. The speech has been prepared by the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Donald Sangster.

After the opening of Parliament, Her Majesty will preside at the investiture of persons who have recently been honoured by her, including the President of the Court of Appeal, Sir Herbert Duffus.

The Queen will also visit Jamaica House to see the Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and will go to Vale Royal for lunch with the Hon. Donald Sangster, acting prime minister.

Afterwards, she will visit the University of the West Indies at Mona and will attend the Trooping of Colour at Up Park Camp by the Jamaica Regiment. Tonight, after attending the Commonwealth Games Gala Ball at the Sheraton-Kingston Hotel, the Queen and Prince Philip will leave Kingston for Savanna-la-Mar on the Britannia.

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