Emphasizing the continuing close link with France, the King and Queen made a four days’ State Visit from July 19th to July 22nd 1938. On the evening of the 19th Their Majesties arrived at the Bois de Boulogne station, the station specially reserved for visiting Royalty travelling across the Channel. Thence, accompanied by the President of the French Republic, M. Lebrun and his wife, they went to the Palais d’Orsay where they were to stay.
July 20th saw them at the Palais d’Elysee; laying a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior beneath the Arc de Triomphe; making a trip along the Seine; being entertained at a reception at the Hotel de Ville; visiting the Opera for a gala performance and seeing an open-air ballet in the Park at Bagatelle. On July 21st Their Majesties visited Versailles ere they inspected a military parade and attended a State Luncheon in the Hall of Mirrors.
On July 22nd the King unveiled the Australian National War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux on ground known in the war as ‘Hill 104’ the scene of a brilliant counter-attack by Australian troops. That evening they returned home to a great welcome from the London crowd.
The initial urgent diplomatic act of the in view of the need to make firmer ties with Britain’s chief ally in Europe, became a personal success, Queen Elizabeth’s elegant dresses and her spontaneous charm of manner making a special appeal.
On July 30th 1938, the ILN published
‘The Royal Visit to France’ special number

(Appendix List No. 121) in which all the above events are illustrated. The top part of the cover is a representation in colour of the Australian War Memorial against a bright orange sunset. The crossed flags of France and Britain dominate the foreground.
This is issue number 5180, vol. 193, pages 181-220, measuring 37 x 26 cm. and priced at one shilling.

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