The first official visit happened in March 1960 when, the Princess Royal, Princess Mary, visited Grand Turk. The Royal Yacht Britannia lay offshore at Grand Turk and as the Princess Royal came ashore in the royal barge she passed the gathered Caicos sloops and Salt Company lighters, which had been decorated with bunting and flags.
The Princess Royal was greeted by the Governor of Jamaica, Sir Kenneth Blackburne, then by the Administrator Geoffrey Guy and his wife, followed by members of the Executive Council and their wives. After these presentations had taken place at the salt dock the princess Royal inspected a Guard of Honour formed by the local troops of Scouts and Guides.
From the Dock the Princess Royal was taken to a platform made of a pile of salt, decorated with conch shells and starfish, and carpeted with mats specially woven by the Federation of Women. A senior elected member of the Legislative Assembly gave a welcome address and the Princess was presented with a shell lamp for herself, a sailing model of a local sloop for Prince Charles and a sponge for Princess Anne (who was later to become the Princess Royal). The Lodges and Benevolent Society members were present in their uniforms making it a colourful occasion. After the Official welcome the Princess Royal was taken on a tour of the United States Auxiliary Air Force Guided Missile Base and the United States Naval Facility, the Hospital and the Library. In the afternoon, the Girl Guides and Scouts gave a display on the Parade Ground and in the Militia Building each branch of the Federation of Women of Grand Turk and Salt Cay and of each of the settlements of the Caicos Islands had stalls displaying their handwork. The Grand Turk branch also put on a dress display, modelling dresses that they had made themselves. In the evening there was a cocktail party at Government House and when the Princess Royal returned to the Royal Yacht Britannia there was a firework display in town to mark her departure.
Following her departure on 25th March the Princess Royal sent a telegram to the Administrator Geoffrey Guy, which read “I thank you and Mrs Guy for your hospitality to me and should be glad if you would tell your Executive Council and the People of the Turks and Caicos how very much I enjoyed my visit to the Islands. The warm hearted and friendly reception I received will always remain with me as a very happy memory”. The Administrator responded “On behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands may I thank you both for your gracious message and for honouring us with your visit, which everyone here will always remember with pride and gratitude” (The Gazette, April 2nd 1960)
Contents of this story:
Turks and Caicos National Museum
Nigel Sadler
See Summer 2002 issue of Astrolabe
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