The Royal Watcher - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh continued their six-month Commonwealth Tour inCeylon on this day in 1954, following Tours around the United Kingdom after the Queen’s Coronation. The stops in Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, and Ceylon were followed by visits to Aden, Uganda, Malta and Gibraltar.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, on April 10th, being received in a Civic Reception at the Town Hall.
As the Queen of Ceylon, the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) opened the third session of the Second Parliament of Ceylon at the Independence Hall in Colombo. Lady Pamela Mountbatten wore her Pearl and Diamond Tiara.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited the rock fortress of Sigiriya, built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa, and paid a visit to St. Michael and All Angels Church at Polwatte.
The Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and Greville Ruby Necklace) and Duke of Edinburgh attended a spectacular Banquet hosted by the Governor General, Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury.
The Queen and Duke attended a Civic Reception in Kandy, where they listened to the Adigar, Sir Tikiri Bandara Panabokke II, addressing the room in the Audience Hall, before she opened the new buildings of the University of Ceylon in Kandy and attended the Havelock races.
At the end of the visit, the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, King George VI Festoon Necklace and Diamond Chandelier Earrings) and Duke of Edinburgh attended a Gala Performance in Colombo before they set off for the next leg of the Tour, to Aden.