110th anniversary of first 20th century royal visit to Mauritius
Written by Editor Monday, 15 August 2011 12:08
The first important event in Mauritius at the dawn of the twentieth century was the visit in
August 1901 of the Duke and the Duchess of Cornwall and York, George Frederick Ernest
Albert and Victoria Mary, grandchildren of Queen Victoria. (1) Earlier in 1901 the aged Queen
had died, her son succeeding as Edward VII. The 1901 royal visitors “were destined to be King
George V and Queen Mary.”(2)
The royal guests “were expected to arrive in
Port-Louis on the 5th August 1901.”(Ibid)
However, “they came a day earlier” than
scheduled. As a matter of fact, the royal couple
arrived “la veille, vers 4 hres de l’après-midi.”
(3) However, this early arrival did not encroach on
the official programme of visit as “se conformant
au programme arrêté par le Comité de réception,
le Duc et la Duchesse ne descendirent que le
lendemain à trois heures de l’après-midi.” (Ibid)
News of the early arrival of the princely couple
soon reached every nook and corner of the island
with the result that “une foule de 25,000
personnes, représentant toutes les classes de la
communauté, se porta sur le port, espérant que
leurs Altesses Royales débarqueront dans la
soirée.”(Ibid) The country had prepared to
welcome the royal visitors with pomp and
fervour:
“On the next day, the Capital as well as the
suburb was richly decorated. The principal
buildings of the town were covered with green
twigs, flowers and flags. One could see a crowd of
faces at the windows, on the balconies, on the
street pavements. Opposite the quay an arch of
triumph was raised on which, was hung the
picture of a girl gracefully dressed, and holding a
red plate upon which were written in yellow.
“Welcome to our Highness”. (2)
From Quay Square to Government House
People swarmed to the capital on the morning
of the 5th of August. “Dès le matin une animation
extraordinaire régnait dans la capitale. Une foule
énorme, qui grossissait à l’arrivée de chaque
train, circulait dans les rues, envahissait les
balcons, les fenêtres, les trottoirs et s’écrasait
littéralement sur la Place du Quai et aux
alentours de l’Hôtel du Gouvernement.”(3)
Hurras and vivas rent the atmosphere as the
popular George and Mary set foot on the
Mauritian soil. A salvo from Fort Adelaïde (the
Citadel) greeted the visitors who were welcomed
by the Governor Sir Charles Bruce and God Save
The King was played. The royal convoy then
made for Government House.
On entering Government House on the 5th of
August, the royal guests raised the chief judge
Victor Delafaye to the dignity of Knight bachelor.
(4) Then several addresses were presented to them
by religious bodies, the Chamber of Agriculture,
the Commerce and Agents, the Government
artisans, the representatives of the different
communities, including the Indians of the island,
and by the Lodge of Freemasons.(2)
Gratitude for loyalty to British ruling king
Edward VII
The Duke in his speech, to the addressees of the
people, thanked them for welcoming him and his
wife and expressed joyfulness towards their
loyalty and attachment to his father King Edward
VII, and, he went on to say: “I note with especial
satisfaction, from the addresses of those non
European Communities, who have made their
home among you that they are living in
contentment under the rule of their King Emperor
Mauritian reminiscences
110th anniversary of first 20th century royal visit to Mauritius
The first important event in Mauritius at the dawn of the twentieth century was the visit in
August 1901 of the Duke and the Duchess of Cornwall and York, George Frederick Ernest
Albert and Victoria Mary, grandchildren of Queen Victoria. (1) Earlier in 1901 the aged Queen
had died, her son succeeding as Edward VII. The 1901 royal visitors “were destined to be King
George V and Queen Mary.”(2)
in Mauritius. We have looked forward with keen
interest to visiting your beautiful island, rich in its
honourable traditions, in the history of literature
and statesmanship; proud of its association with
Naval achievements that shed equal glory on
England and France. . . . I fervently trust that
under divine providence the people of Mauritius
may ever remain a united, loyal and prosperous
community.”(Ibid)
After that, the royal guests proceeded to lay the
foundation stone of the pedestal upon which the
statue of Queen Victoria would be erected before
Government House. It was followed by the
procession of thousands of school children, before
the Duke and Duchess, each one leaving at the
Duchess’ feet, a nosegay. After that came the
artisans of Port-Louis and then, the members of
the Hindu and Chinese Community. The Duke
and Duchess then drove through Pope Hennessy
street to the Champ de Mars. On both sides of the
street were stationed the soldiers of the 18th
Bengal Infantry and the 27th Madras Infantry.
The royal couple and their company then
moved on to the Central Station whence a special
train took them to Réduit.
Fêted with equal enthusiasm in the countryside
After the royal tour in Port Louis, the
distinguished visitors were fêted in
the countryside. “Les autres
fêtes qui signalèrent la visite
ducale se déroulèrent dans
les districts ruraux de la
colonie que les hôtes
princiers visitèrent
presque tous et où
ils reçurent un
accueil non
moins enthousiaste
que dans la capitale.”(3)
On the sixth of August the
royal couple was “present at the
boat-races held in their honour at
Mahebourg.” (2) M. de Coriolis on
that occasion made a speech, noted for
its eloquence. He said among other things:
“Vainqueurs, les Anglais le sont encore,
puisque après avoir fait flotter leur pavillon
sur cette île, ils ont conquis nos coeurs par leur
esprit de tolérance et de justice et qu’ils récoltent
aujourd’hui le bénéfice de leur sage politique par
l’imposante et enthousiaste manifestation qui a
prouvé, à vos hôtes royaux notre affectueuse
loyauté et, notre dévouement à l’Angleterre”.
That day the princely couple lunched with the
stationmaster Ricard Laventure at Rose-Belle
railway station. (5) On leaving the station the
prince offered two gifts – a fork for the
stationmaster’s daughter Amélie and a
paperweight for the stationmaster’s personal use.
Hunting party at Plaine Raoul and reception at
Eureka
On the 7th of August the Duke was invited to a
hunting party. “Une partie de chasse aux cerfs,
bien dans la tradition mauricienne, fut organisée
en l’honneur du duc le 7 août à la Plaine Raoul,
Mare-aux-Vacoas.”(6) The Duke was welcomed
to the hunting ground by Léopold and Henri
Antelme. “…ce sont mes oncles qui l’ont reçu.
Dans la matinée, par un temps épouvantable, Son
Altesse a fait du Stalking en compagnie de mon
oncle Léopold à la Plaine Raoul où il a manqué
deux gros-cerfs. Le lunch a eu lieu dans la
splendide salle verte qui avait été construite pour
recevoir 500 personnes au bord du chemin d’où
l’on domine la Mare aux Vacoas et qui ne
contenait que mes oncles, mes cousins et moimême
et quelques personnes de la suite de Son
Altesse. On a donné ensuite une petite battue à la
Plaine Bonnefin où 10 ou 12 pièces ont été tuées
en quelques minutes.”(7)
The same day the royal visitors proceeded to
Alma sugar estate, “appartenant à la famille
Leclézio, avant d’être accueillis à une réception à
Eureka, Moka.” (6) Back to Réduit, the Duke of
York chaired a solemn meeting during which the
governor Sir Charles Bruce was elevated to the
dignity of the distinguished Order of St Michael
and St George and Dr Edward and P.E. de Chazal
were conferred the C.M.G. (4)
Léoville L’Homme’s fitting tribute on
departure day
On the 8th August the royal couple departed
after having hosted a banquet on board the Ophir.
But not before paying a visit to a charitable
institution in Port Louis, “le Couvent de la
Montagne, dirigé par les Soeurs de Bon Secours.”
(3) Léoville L’Homme under the pen name, Léon
Lauret, paid a fitting tribute to them. He grew
particularly poetical when he wrote about the
Duchess:
“La Duchesse a conquis les coeurs par sa
grâce et par sa charité. Aux gens du monde
qui se sont pressés autour d’elle dans les
réceptions, il lui a suffi d’adresser un
mot ou un sourire pour faire des
heureux. Aux pauvres, aux malades, aux
déshérités du monde, qu’elle n’a pas voulu
oublier, sa charité a versé le baume souverain qui
apaise les colères, fait oublier les injustices du
sort, et mène doucement à croire qu’après tout, le
monde n’est pas si méchant qu’on a coutume de le
dire.” (2)
DODO
References
P.J. Barnwell & A. Toussaint, A Short History of
Mauritius, 1949
D. Napal, Royal Visits to Mauritius in Mauritius
Times of 26 September 1956
Auguste Toussaint, Port-Louis, deux siècles
d’histoire (1735-1935), 1936
Antoine Chelin, Une île et son passé, Editions
de l’Océan Indien, 1982
B.Burrun, M. Ricard Laventure, le chef de gare,
qui reçut à déjeuner le prince Albert et la
princesse Victoria, in Week-End, 12 January
1992
Amédée Nagapen, Histoire de la Colonie, Isle de
France – Ile Maurice, 1721-1968, Port-Louis,
