The Prince and Princess of Wales attended State Dinners in Melbourne and Canberra, an iconic Charity Ball, a Film Premiere and a Gala at the National Gallery on a 10-day Tour of Australia on this day in 1985, 40 years ago, to mark the 150th anniversary of the State of Victoria, two years after their month-long Tour of Australia in 1983.
Filmed for the documentary Charles and Di: In Private and in Public, the Prince and Princess of Wales flew from London via Fiji and arrived well over a day later in Melbourne to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the State of Victoria, staying at Government House in Melbourne.
The following day, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Alcoa aluminium smelting works in Portland before attending a Gala at the The National Galley in Melbourne.
The Prince and Princess visited the city of Mildura in Queensland, where they took a ride along the Murray River on a paddle steamer ‘Pevensey’. They visited the Rotamah Island Bird Observatory on the Gippsland Lakes and the Puckapunyal Australian Army training facility before the Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker) attended a Charity Ball at the Southern Cross Hotel.
The next day, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne ahead of the Premiere of the film ‘Burke and Wills’ in Melbourne.
Over the next few days, Prince and Princess visited Macedon and the Prince played Polo at Werribee Park ahead of a Rock Concert in Melbourne and a visit to the Flemington Race Course for the Melbourne Cup.
On the final evening of the stay in Melbourne, the Governor of the State of Victoria held a State Dinner for the Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing the Spencer Tiara and her Modern Sapphire Choker) at Government House in Melbourne.
The next day, the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to Canberra of a series of official engagements with the Prime Minister and Governor General, that culminated in a Banquet for the Prince and Princess of Wales (in the Spencer Tiara and her Amethyst Earrings) at Government House in Canberra.
The Prince and Princess of Wales then travelled, via a short visit and ceremony in Fiji, on to the United States for a five-day Official Visit, returning back to London three weeks after they had left.
The Prince and Princess of Wales in Australia in 1983
