Docco's Diary | Royal visits to St Peter's College

With the news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th, it is perhaps an appropriate time to remember the visit of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, to St Peter’s College on March 5th 1974.

The 1974 magazine records his visit:

“The most exciting day of the year was on us without warning. The surprise announcement on 4th March by the Headmaster that His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, would visit the School the following day startled everyone.

By eleven o’clock the school was centred around the area South of Old School House. A convoy of black cars and stream of prefects from the Main Gate heralded the Duke’s arrival. The royal party’s car doors were opened by Neil Dunn and Anthony White, whose homes near Marree and Broken Hill had recently been overwhelmed by floods.

Prince Philip was welcomed by the Headmaster, the Archbishop of Adelaide and members of the Board of Governors in front of the Chapel. Moving towards the tree-planting site he was greeted by Mrs Miller, several masters and the School Captain, Geoffrey Frayne, and spoke with many boys.

With a spade, Prince Philip planted the second Duke of Edinburgh’s Tree. It was, like the first, a cedar.

The School Captain thanked the Duke and presented a mounted piece of the first cedar inscribed with the words:

‘On November 18th, 1867, HRH Prince Alfred planted a cedar tree (cedrus deodara) outside the West door of the School Chapel. It was always known as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Tree but it died and was cut down in 1972.

On March 5th, 1974 HRH Prince Philip planted a second tree and this piece from the first tree has been presented to commemorate his visit to the School’.”

Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, visited St Peter’s College in 1867 and planted the first Duke of Edinburgh’s tree. He arrived in Adelaide on 31st October 1867 and stayed three weeks as part of a world tour. The Prince was the first member of the British Royal Family to visit Australia and attracted huge crowds wherever he went.

Prince Alfred College was named after Prince Alfred during this visit to Adelaide in 1867. The foundation stone of the Main Building was laid by him on 5th November during his 1867 visit to South Australia. The Prince agreed to the request to name the College in his honour. The first students commenced at Prince Alfred College in 1869.

Another visit from a member of the royal family to St Peter’s College was in 1920 from Edward, Prince of Wales, the oldest son of King George V. The Prince of Wales arrived in Australia on board the HMS Renown in April 1920, having left England the previous month. He spent six days in South Australia after arriving in Adelaide on July 12th.

The August 1920 magazine records his visit:

“During his five days’ stay in Adelaide HRH the Prince of Wales, the oldest son of King George V, paid two unofficial visits to St Peter’s College. He had not been in Adelaide three hours before he inquired about the squash court and a message from Government House intimated the he would reach the School at 2.30pm”. He proceeded to defeat Headmaster Bickersteth and the Governor, Sir Archibald Weigall, in games of squash.

“On Wednesday July 14th before the annual football match against PAC on the Adelaide Oval, the Prince came out again to the School’.  Again he was successful in defeating two opponents on the squash court.

“In his conversation with the Headmaster he asked that an extra holiday might be given to the School. Half an hour later he told the boys of both St Peter’s College and Prince Alfred College that he had asked for this holiday and that the Headmasters had agreed”.

The Editorial of the August 1920 magazine comments: “The personality of the Prince of Wales has impressed itself no less upon the members of St Peter’s College than on the people of South Australia as a whole. All who came into touch with His Royal Highness, the privileged few who met him during his two visits, the many who heard his charming words at the Oval, the Guard of Honour who were present at his departure from the Outer Harbour, alike realise that ‘a kinder gentleman treads not the earth’, and that take him all in all we shall not look upon his like again”.

In 1936, Edward was to become King Edward VIII after the death of his father King George V, but he abdicated later in the year due to his desire to marry Wallis Simpson. He was the only British sovereign to voluntarily resign the crown.

Researched and written by David Docwra
David Docwra retired from St Peter’s College in December 2015 after 37 years’ service and is fondly remembered by many as a dedicated teacher, a committed coach of squash, cricket and soccer, and most especially as a passionate Head of Hawkes House for 21 years. David remains connected to St Peter’s College and regularly provides historical articles for the St Peter’s Old Collegians newsletters.