Royal Encounters: A History of Royal Visits to Hamilton

Wednesday 8 June 2022 | Stories of Hamilton,

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For more than a century, Hamilton has proudly played host to members of the British Royal Family. These visits have long been moments of celebration, ceremony, and civic pride, carefully recorded in newspapers, photographs, and the memories of those who attended. From the early 20th century through to the post-war era, each royal visit left its own mark on the city’s history.

Hamilton’s first royal visit took place on 27 April 1920, when Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), arrived at the Claudelands Racecourse as part of his post-war tour of New Zealand. Touching down at 12:20 pm, the Prince was greeted by a large crowd of schoolchildren, cadets, returned soldiers, and members of the public. Though the visit was brief as he departed at 1:20 pm by train for Rotorua, it was a significant milestone for the city. Photographs from the day hint at the size of the crowd and capture the formality and excitement of Hamilton’s first moment on the royal stage.

On 26 February 1927, Hamilton welcomed the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), during their month-long tour of New Zealand. With Claudelands Park undergoing alterations for the Hamilton Trotting Club, the official reception was held at Steele Park in Hamilton East. Mayor John Robert Fow delivered a formal address, recorded in the Waikato Times, and photographs captured the pomp and popularity of the occasion. It was the Duchess’s first visit to Hamilton but not her last.

The 1953–54 Royal Tour marked a historic first: Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning British monarch to visit Aotearoa New Zealand. She and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Hamilton on 30 December 1953, drawing a crowd of 25,000 people who lined the streets to welcome the royal envoy.
That evening, the Queen attended a civic dinner near the Fairfield Bridge and a youth fiesta at Bledisloe Hall. She spent the night at the Hamilton Hotel on Victoria Street, but not before a brief behind-the-scenes scramble. The lock on the executive suite had jammed, and local locksmith Horace Price was urgently called in to fix it, just in time for Her Majesty’s arrival. The following morning, the Queen attended a civic reception and agricultural display at the Claudelands ShowGrounds before continuing her nationwide tour.

On 4 February 1958, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother returned to Hamilton, more than three decades after her first visit as Duchess of York. Her return was part of her second tour of New Zealand, where she was once again warmly welcomed. During a civic reception, Mayor Roderick Braithwaite presented her with a paua shell casket, a gesture of local pride and appreciation. The next day, she departed Hamilton by plane for Napier, continuing her journey through the North Island.

These royal visits, whether brief or grand in scale, have each contributed to the civic and cultural history of Hamilton. From crowded racecourses to elegant civic receptions, they offered a glimpse of the monarchy to generations of Hamiltonians. Thanks to the photographers, journalists, and everyday citizens who captured these moments, the legacy of each visit lives on in our city’s archives.

The Prince of Wales

HCL_09247, Hamilton City Libraries

The Duke and Duchess of York

A black and white image showing woman and man in 1930s style dress standing on grass. In the background of the image there is a man in military uniform and a large crowd. The main subjects of the image are Mayor J F Fow and the Duchess of York.