Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Medal Commemorating the Visit of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York to the British Colonies aboard H.M.S. Ophir 1901, small oval medal, 24 x 20.5mm., silver, ring suspension, good very fine, scarce £60-80

The Royal Tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V and Queen Mary) in 1901, included visits to Australia - where they opened the first Federal Parliament in the Exhibition Buildings of Melbourne, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. At the time it was seen as one of the most lavish tours undertaken by the monarchy. As no royal yacht was able to cater for the vast distance to be travelled, the Orient Steam Navigation Company’s liner Ophir was specially chartered and commissioned for royal duty.