A right royal history
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ arrival in Rotorua in a couple of weeks will add to an already rich history of royal visits to the city. When Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrive on October 31, it will mark the eighth royal visit to the city since 1870.
In 1927 his brother the Duke of York and his wife, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, also made a visit to Rotorua.
On the first day they made a trip to Whakarewarewa, where they waited half an hour to see the Po¯ hutu geyser.
The last day of their visit was described by newspapers as a “truly brilliant” one.
The royal couple spent the morning at Arawa Park, with an estimated 4000 people, for Ma¯ ori celebrations.
The demonstration went on for an hour and a half with hundreds of representatives from Taupo¯ and Bay of Plenty tribes dancing with poi, singing waiata and performing haka.
A newspaper report said visitors were massed between the performers and the enclosing fence, sitting on the ground in the sun to get a glimpse of the royals.
Following the presentation the royal couple drove to the Government Gardens where they unveiled the Arawa War Memorial.