Royal Visit to the Union of South Africa, 1947: printed cotton handkerchief

Commemorative souvenir: printed handkerchief commemorating the Royal Visit to the Union of South Africa in 1947.

Measures 27 x 27 cm. Cotton. Hemmed.

Creases as seen in the images.

The Royal Visit to South Africa in 1947 was a significant tour undertaken by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and their daughters, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret. It marked the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the country and lasted from February to April. The tour aimed to strengthen ties between Britain and South Africa in the aftermath of World War II and to affirm South Africas loyalty to the British Crown within the Commonwealth. The royal family traveled extensively across the country, receiving enthusiastic public receptions, and Princess Elizabeth delivered her famous 21st birthday speech from Cape Town, dedicating her life to service. The visit, however, occurred during a period of growing tensions over racial segregation, which would later culminate in the formal adoption of apartheid in 1948.