by NTSOG » 10 Sep 2022, 7:19 am
G'day mchughcb,
My parents went to a Royal reception on the Britannia when it was docked at Melbourne. My father was high up in the media industry and so copped an invite. Somewhere I have a photo of the two just before leaving for the reception. Both were wearing formal attire, i.e. the old man was wearing tails with his medals, top hat, etc. For my mother, a working-class girl who came to Australia from Hertfordshire in England with her family just after WW I, it was a highlight of her life. The best way to describe my mother's delight at meeting the Queen and Prince Phillip on the Britannia is to imagine Hyacinth Bucket in the comedy series Keeping up Appearances being invited to a Royal 'do'. After my mother died I found she had kept the formal and very fancy invitation to the reception. After a lifetime in Australia she was still English at heart.
Jim