Orders, Decorations and Medals

Visit to the Colonies Medal 1901, obverse: a crowned anchor with royal garter and rose emblem inset, reverse inscribed, ‘T.R.H. Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York British Colonies 1901 H.M.S. Ophir’, small oval silver medal, 24 x 20mm., on silver fob chain, nearly extremely fine £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.