Queen Elizabeth II arrives for royal tour

For the New Zealanders who experienced it, the visit of the young Queen and her dashing husband, Prince Philip, in the summer of 1953–4 was a never-to-be forgotten event.

Thousands greeted the first reigning monarch to visit this country in Auckland’s aptly named Queen St. In scenes reminiscent of a modern-day rock concert, hundreds of people had camped overnight to secure a good spot for the occasion.

The Queen visited 46 towns and cities and attended 110 functions during her stay. It was said that three out of every four New Zealanders saw her.

The country was gripped with patriotic fervour; sheep were even dyed red, white and blue. It was hard to spot a car that did not sport a Union Jack, or a building in the main cities that was not covered in bunting and flowers during the day or electric lights at night.

Sadly, the Queen’s triumphant arrival was swiftly followed by one of New Zealand’s darkest moments, when disaster struck at Tangiwai on the following night, Christmas Eve (see 24 December).