First royal visit to Mauritius 140 years ago
Written by Editor Monday, 28 June 2010 16:00
There were four official royal visits to Mauritius under British rule – in the years 1870, 1901, 1927 and 1956. To the exception of that rendered by the Duke of Manchester in 1881, not classified in the list of official royal visits. The first of these official royal visits to the island had been in May 1870 when Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Alfred (1844-1900), Duke of Edinburgh, a young naval officer, called at Mauritius and remained for ten very busy days.
It is notable that the then British Governor in Mauritius Sir Henry Barkly had just been appointed to the governorship of the Cape of Good Hope, when he was informed of the impending visit of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, who was on a tour to the chief British colonies. He accordingly postponed his departure, and was fortunate enough to entertain his Royal guest, who arrived at Mauritius at the end of May, 1870.
A long awaited visit delayed by the spectre of epidemic
The visit of Prince Alfred to Mauritius was long overdue. The American Consul Nicholas Pike wrote extensively on the atmosphere full of expectancy which surrounded the royal event:
“It having been at last decided that the visit of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, so long delayed on account of the epidemic, should positively take place in 1870, great preparations were made to receive the first Prince of royal English blood that had ever approached these shores. News was brought that in May the royal visitor might be expected. A Committee, styled the Duke of Edinburgh’s, was appointed; horses were sent for from the Cape, wines and provisions from Europe; Government House was furbished up; the streets newly macadamised; paint and whitewash everywhere; triumphal arches constructed; and amusements of all sorts planned. The members of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences agreed to get up an exhibition of the various products of the Island, and all was excitement and anticipation.
By the April mail the Flag arrived, selected for Mauritius by the Naval Authorities of Great Britain. It consists of a blue ensign, in the fly of which is a shield quartered severally with a ship, three cane plants, a key, and a star rising from the ocean. The motto is ‘Stella c1avisque maris Indicis.’ It was intended to first unfurl this flag on welcoming His Royal Highness to Mauritius when landing from the’ Galatea.’
The Duke was at this time being fêted at Ceylon; and the May mail brought the news that the august visitor would arrive about the 18th.
The whole place was in a flutter; the shops were gay with finery for the coming fetes; and most unusual bustle pervaded everywhere.
Sad disappointment was experienced when the 18th arrived, but no Prince. Day after day passed, and Her Majesty’s loyal Mauritian subjects began to fear that all the addresses and speeches prepared for royal ears were vain, and that some cause had again turned the’ Galatea’ from their port….”
Prince Alfred’s very busy days in Mauritius
Every day the programme of the Duke’s entertainment was changed and it was not till about 11 a.m. on the 24th May that the Union Jack on Signal Mountain announced the approach of the ‘Galatea’. At 4.30 p.m. she anchored, and after a salute from the forts, his Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly, attended by his aide-de-camp for the occasion, and Mr. Arthur Barkly, his private secretary, repaired on board to welcome the Prince. The same evening a quiet landing was effected; and he dined with the Governor, returning in the same manner, to sleep on board.
During his visit which lasted up to June 4, 1870, the Prince laid the foundation-stone of the Royal Alfred Meteorological Observatory at Powder Mills, inaugurated St. Nicholas’ (Mariners) Church in Port Louis harbour, visited the Botanical Gardens at Pamplemousses, participated in hunting parties at Fressanges and Bois Sec in the south, attended horse-racing, called upon the soldiers at Mahebourg where the 86th R.C.D. Regiment provided entertainments.
Inaugurating church and doing charitable deeds
The following extract drawn from Ghislain Emmanuel’s “Diocese of Mauritius” relates the inauguration of the Mariners Church in Port Louis harbour on the occasion of the visit of Prince Alfred:
“The new Mariners’ Church dedicated to St. Nicholas, begun in the time of Bishop Hatchard was completed shortly after his death, and in time for the opening service held on 26th May, 1870, during the visit of the sailor prince, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, who was present on the occasion. The jetty was connected with the landing stage at the harbour by a bridge of boats for that special service.”
On the 3rd June, prior to his departure, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh made a donation of £ 100 to the following Institutions in equal proportion: The Sailors’ Home, The Protestant Benevolent Institution, The Convent of “Notre-Dame de Bon Secours” and The Society of “St. Vincent de Paul”. It is notable that during Prince Alfred’s visit, Lord C.W.D. Beresford of H.M.S. ‘Galatea’ and the Captain of the main-top of the same ship ascended the Pieter Both mountain in Moka on Monday 30th May.
A bouquet of addresses confirming loyalty to the Empire
Historian D. Napal commented on the various addresses on the occasion of the 1870
royal visit in the following terms:
“As soon as he set foot in the Government House, addresses were presented to him from different quarters – the Council of Government, the Municipal Corporation, the Chamber of Agriculture, etc. All addresses had one theme in common – the expression of Loyalty, to the rule of his mother, Queen Victoria and the gratitude for the happiness and prosperity which the people enjoyed during her reign.
The Governor of the island… Sir Henry Barkley, who on the occasion of a banquet offered in honour of the Duke by the Municipality spoke eloquently of the warmth of’ affection shown by all classes of people to the Duke. He also promised that on his return to the home country he would testify to the success of his visit in the island.”
Note: Other royal visits took place after independence. D O D O
Bibliography
P.J. Barnwell and Auguste Toussaint, A Short History of Mauritius, 1949
Ghislain Emmanuel, Diocese of Mauritius, 1973
Mauritius Almanac, 1870 & 1871
Nicholas Pike, Sub-Tropical Rambles to the Land of the Aphanapteryx, 1873
Allister Macmillan, Mauritius Illustrated, 1914
D. Napal, Royal Visits to Mauritius (Mauritius Times, 28th September 1956)
