Williamson Diamonds Mine, Mwadui - Princess Margaret pays a Royal Visit

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Williamson Pink Mwadui 
A Royal DiamondWilliamson Diamonds Mine, Mwadui - Princess Margaret pays a Royal VisitWilliamson Diamonds Mine Mwadui 
A Royal Diamond

 


HRH Roncess Margaret at Mwadui


























































Jack Jubb (wearing glasses) looking on,Chief Security Officer Hanson, Philip Getliffe, HRH Princess Margaret and Gay Du Toit in the sorting house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The commemorative medal for the Royal visit. 
Photo from the Hide family collection &copy. 
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Dr Williamson, a staunch royalist, was unable to receive HRH the Princess Margaret, aged 26, due to urgent treatment in Montreal for what turned out to be terminal cancer of the throat. The Mine Superintendant Gay du Toit took over the roll of master of ceromonies for the royal visit. Doc's Rover 90 was a bit jaded so he bought a new Mercedes saloon for the occasion, his chaufeur Ibrahim was the royal driver. The route from the airport took the royal party up Hopley Ave to the places of interest they were to visit. The rout was all spruced up with new trees and shrubs, painting and signs depicting the local wildlife. A plaque showing the official royal opening was mounted at the entrance to the new sorting house and as it was the dry season wheat was sown in front to look like grass growing.

Doc's legal partner Mr IC Chopra QC had entertained the royal party in Mwanza the previous day.

The Royal party consisted of HRH the Princess Margaret accompanied by two ladies in waiting, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, and Lady Iris Peake. Two gentlemen in waiting, Colonel Martin Gilliatt, and Major the Hon Francis Legh. There were two "Scotland Yard" plain clothes policemen in attendance.

  • The Blue Lagoon tour, Dar es Salaam to Nairobi from the 8th through 18th October 1956 Dar-es-Salaam to Nairobi
  • From there she flew north for a return flight to Tanga on the 10th.
  • On the 12th HRH flew West to Mbeya and then back East to Sao Hill.
  • On the 13th it was North to Tabora, then onto Mwanza.
  • On Monday the 15th it was South East to Mwadui, and then onto Arusha.
  • Finally on the 18th she flew North to Nairobi via Moshi.

An official 112 page booklet "Tanganyika: The Royal Visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret October 1956 " was published and is still available on the net.

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IC Chopra meets HRH Princess Margaret in Mwanza
Photo from the Chopra family ©
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HRH Princess Margaret has lunch with Doc's business partner Mr IC Chopra and family in Mwanza on the day before flying on to Mwadui.

Photo from the Chopra family ©






















HRH Princess Margaret arrives in Mwadui







HRH The Princess Margaret arrives in Mwadui on board the Queen's Flight RAF  XH-375 de Haviland Heron C.Mk 3 (one of two from the Queens Flight) during the royal Blue Lagoon tour of East Africa.
















Waiting for HRH The Princess Margaret, Mwadui 
Photo from the Hide family collection © 
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The crowd waiting for HRH Princess Margaret at at the foundation stone, with the speaker system erected by Louis Staalberg VQ3FN, now N7LS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The author and brother with Gina Johnson waiting for HRH in Mwadui

 

 

The author with his brother Peter and Gina Johnson waiting for the big event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HRH Princess Margaret tapping the foudation stone in Mwadui.
Photo from the Hide family collection ©

 

 

 

HRH Princess Margaret duly arrived from the airport in Doc's new maroon Mercedes Benz 220S and taps the four corners of the cornerstone for the new Church. A sound system was installed by Louis Staalberg VQ3FN, now N7LS, but HRH never uttered a word.














In the Diamond Sorting House

The Mwadui Diamonds, thats what I came here for

 

 

A plaque was placed at the entrance to the new sorting house showing that it was officially opened by HRH Princess Margaret on 15th October 1956.

HRH Princess Margaret, escorted by Philip Gettliffe, eying the diamonds in the sorting house after tapping the foundation stone for the new Church in 1956. Unfortunately Dr Williamson was extremely ill and left Mwadui to fly to Montreal for specialist treatment just two days before the Royal visit.

Photo from the Hide family collection ©

As it was the dry season, the seated area outside the new sorting house was sown with wheat seed to look like grass growing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HRH Princess Margaret leaving the Mwadui sorting house with Jack Jubb 

 

 

 

HRH Princess Margaret leaving the WDM sorting house with Jack Jubb, the Company Secretary, and Mine Superintendent Gay du Toit, with Chief Security Officer Hanson behind.

Photo from the Hide family collection © 












HRH Princess Margaret visits Mwadui 1956 from Buddy Hide on Vimeo.

 

 

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