Queen Elizabeth II dies: Gold Coast mourns longest-reigning monarch
It was a wet day when the Queen, who was marking 11 years on the throne, arrived on the Glitter Strip, which had been named the Gold Coast just years earlier. See what she did here
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The Queen travelled to Australia 16 times, visiting every state and territory to celebrate “the diversity as well as the dynamism of Australia, and the vigour and humour of Australians everywhere”.
The 1963 visit saw Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Brisbane aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, before flying to the Gold Coast on March 7, 1963.
It was a wet day when the Queen, who was marking 11 years on the throne, arrived on the Glitter Strip, which had been named the Gold Coast just years earlier with her husband, Prince Philip.
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The royals were greeted with a cheerful roar as they stepped off the plane on to the wet tarmac at what was then known as Coolangatta Airport.
The inclement weather had reduced the expected crowd of 70,000, but did not upset the mood of the excited onlookers who braved the conditions.
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People from southern Queensland and northern NSW poured in to get a look, camping in deck chairs and holding beach umbrellas over their heads. After stepping on to Gold Coast soil, the royals took a 6km route through Coolangatta and then back to the Kirra royal surf carnival.
The rain held off as the crowd roared in approval when the Queen stepped out of the royal car wearing a jade and honeysuckle floral silk dress with side pleats and a jade tulle gathered hat with a turn-back brim.
More than 1000 lifesavers appeared before the Queen and 540 of them paraded proudly in a royal march past.
Premier Francis Nicklin and his sister met the royal visitors and introduced them to the Surf Life Saving Association state centre president Jack Winders and his wife.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh passed through a 50-man guard of honour of lifesavers who each wore a different costume. They represented 44 surf clubs in Queensland and six from northern NSW.
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The 1963 royal visit was the second time Elizabeth had visited Australia following her delayed 1953 trip to celebrate her coronation.
She was originally scheduled to tour Australia as part of a worldwide trip in early 1952, but made it as far as Kenya by February that year when her father, King George VI, died. After returning to London for her coronation, the Queen returned to her scheduled tour, making her the first reigning monarch to enter Australia.
She returned again 15 more times during her reign, visiting the Gold Coast on several royal tours.
She has a park named for her in Coolangatta while her husband had a park named for him at The Spit.
It had been hoped that she would make a final visit to the city in 2018 to open the Commonwealth Games but the Queen’s age meant she was unable to attend.
However, she did send a message in the Queen’s baton which was read out by the then-Prince Charles.
The Queen’s royal logo appears in locations across the city as part of the Commonwealth Walkway which was installed after the 2018 Games.
Originally published as Queen Elizabeth II dies: Gold Coast mourns longest-reigning monarch
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