The 1925 Royal Visit to Africa
The young Prince of Wales, later to abdicate as King Edward VIII, visited South Africa in 1925.
It was a grand affair with large welcomes at the all the extravagantly decorated towns he visited between his arrival on April 30th and his departure almost 3 months later on 29th July.
Using two beautiful carriages the Royal Party toured Southern Africa visiting Cape Province, the Orange Free State, Basutoland, Natal, Transvaal, Swaziland, Southern & Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The Prince met local Royalty, visited Victoria Falls, played Golf and enjoyed exuberant African welcomes throughout his visit.
The Royal Train had its own Post Office, situated within a travelling post office van attached to a pilot train that kept ahead of the Royal Train by around 30 minutes. A special postmark was prepared and we are delighted to offer this lovely Royal Train letterhead sheet bearing a complete set of the South African 1925 Air Mail stamps tied by the trains special tour oval handstamp.
As an aviator himself perhaps the Prince enjoyed these stamps depicting a de Havilland Biplane, despite not sharing his fathers passion for philately!
General
General
General