The ‘Welcome Home Number’ of May 22, 1954
(Appendix List No. 155) was issued as a
record of the Nation’s thanksgiving for the safe return of the Queen.
The incidents of the tour had already been illustrated on 80 pages and
with 300 photographs in all the intervening issues. This number opens
with HMY ‘Britannia’ sailing up the Channel being welcomed
by ships of the Home Fleet. Other photographs show the ship steaming up
the Thames, entering the Pool of London and mooring above Tower Bridge.
The processional drive to the palace is covered at every stage culminating
in the scene of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace being
acclaimed by crowds flocking down the illuminated Mall.
An 8 page coloured section has as its centre fold a diagramatic drawing
by G. H. Davis of ‘Britannia’ showing her internal layout.
The cover has a coloured portrait of the Queen and the Duke in formal
dress. Surrounding the rectangular frame is a thick frieze of yellow foliage
hanging from the branches of which are the Coats of Arms of the Commonwealth
countries visited during the Royal Tour.
This is issue number 6005, vol. 224, pages 821-892, measuring 37 x 26
cm and priced at four shillings.