With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George creating hilarity during their Australian tour we asked locals if anyone had experienced their own royal encounter. Moree’s Jay McNamara responded with her story...
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
YOU invited readers to share their royal encounters so I have put pen to paper to record our family’s.
During the royal visit to Australia in 1970, I was in Sydney with my second youngest son to see his specialist.
After seeing the doctor we were walking up Macquarie Street on our way to Market Place to book our train tickets to come home to Moree.
As I wait for the lights to change so we could cross the street, I noticed it was strangely quiet with no traffic.
Then, several large cars came past with pennants fluttering and I realised that the queen and prince must be coming.
As the royal limousine passed, I told Ralph to wave to the queen and he did - vigorously.
The queen looked over, smiled and waved as Prince Phillip lent forward to wave as well.
When we arrived at Market Place, it was very crowded – more than usual.
We collected our tickets and as we walked into the street, there was Princess Anne getting out of a car.
I lifted Ralph up so he could see her (and not be crushed in the crowd).
As she straightened up, she seemed to catch Ralph’s eye and smile at him – wishful thinking on a Mum’s part?
When Prince Philip visited Sinclair Hill, he attended communion at All Saints, Moree.
I was fortunate to be part of the congregation.
On my maternal side, one of the family antidotes tells of the Danish royal blood that flows through our veins as a result of one of our ancestors, a chambermaid, catching the eye of one of the princes in the early 17th century – no contraception in those days!
Alas, there is no proof and, if true, that ‘royal connection’ is now very weak.