HER MAJESTY'S COMMONWEALTH TOUR (Hansard, 19 November 1953)

§ The Prime Minister (Sir Winston Churchill)
I beg to move, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty on the occasion of Her Majesty's departure with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, to visit Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, and certain of Her Majesty's Colonies and of the Territories under Her Majesty's Protection, conveying an assurance that Her Majesty will leave with the prayers of Her people in this country for a safe journey and a happy return and, further, assuring Her Majesty that this House will follow the journey with deep interest and loyal affection. All Members of the House will, I know, wish to place on record their good wishes to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for the success of the long tour on which they are about to leave, and to proclaim the eagerness with which we look forward to their safe return next May. This, Sir, will be the first time in history that a British Sovereign has circumnavigated the globe. Her Majesty and the Duke will set foot in many lands owing allegiance to the Crown and will, I have no doubt, arouse the keenest sense of loyal devotion. We have no doubt of the joyful welcome which the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will receive wherever they go.
Her Majesty's ship "Gothic" is more spacious and travels faster than the "Golden Hind," but it may well be that the journey which the Queen is about to take will be no less auspicious, and the treasure which she brings back no less bright, than when Drake first sailed an English ship round the world. We wish Her Majesty and His Royal Highness God-speed, and our fervent prayers accompany their toils and duties.

§ Mr. C. R. Attlee (Walthamstow, West)
On behalf of Members on this side of the House, I rise to support the Motion that has been moved by the Prime Minister, and to express our good wishes for a prosperous and successful journey to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. I know well how anxiously our friends overseas have been looking forward to the Royal visit, and I am sure that the Queen and the Duke will receive a tremendous welcome, not only because 1914 the Queen is the symbol of the unity of the Commonwealth but also because the personal affection which is borne to Her Majesty and the Duke by the people of this island is equalled by that which will be extended to them by the people in the other Dominions.

§ Mr. Clement Davies (Montgomery)
I beg to support this Motion and to express complete concurrence with what has been so admirably said by the two right hon. Gentlemen, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. We of this House, on behalf of ourselves and on behalf of the people of this country whom we have the honour to represent, desire to convey to Her Majesty and to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh our loyal and affectionate greetings and to wish them God-speed on their great mission.
Once again, they go as the ambassadors of good will, of true friendship and of good fellowship from the people of this country to the peoples of the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and the other countries they are to visit. In turn, they will be again ambassadors from the peoples of those countries back to us. Our sincere good wishes go with them. Their safety and happiness will be in our earnest daily prayers.

§ Mr. David Grenfell (Gower)
It is almost 31 years since I spoke in this House on a maiden occasion, and I do not remember having spoken on a nonparty issue during the whole of that period. I have been unashamedly a party man, and I feel it quite consistent with everything I have done, in this House and outside, to support this Motion today.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are going to experience a tremendous influence from, and perhaps to exert a tremendous influence upon, the many nations and subdivisions of races with which they will come into contact during their tour. They will represent us, I feel quite sure. I am perfectly sure that they will enjoy their tour. I do not think there has ever been in the world at any time the kind of spontaneous demonstration which they will meet in the Dominions and the Colonies and Territories overseas.
I speak with feeling. I have been to the Dominions. I went to Canada many, many years ago. I have been to Australia and New Zealand, and I cannot help 1915 testifying here to the tremendous admiration for those countries, which I have gained from visiting them and seeing their model democracies at work so far away from home. I am interested in Australia because I have been married for many years now to a woman who spent her girlhood in Australia. I know Australia very well from hearsay, and I know that there is no brighter surge of human emotion anywhere than that which is waiting to be displayed in Australia when the Queen goes there.
I am very glad that the House has permitted me to make a speech which is non-controversial and which will, I am sure, gain the approval of the House. I hope to return, even as Father of the House, to chide and reprove hon. Members who represent parties other than mine. I shall take my part readily on controversial occasions. This is not a controversial occasion. It contains the promise of the most marvellous demonstration of unity that the Empire has ever witnessed.