The King’s Diary Entry for the 22nd June 1921 being the day of the Opening of the first Northern Ireland Parliament June 1921
In ArchivePaper Diary documents Collection Ref: RCIN GV/PRIV/GVD, 22 June 1921
The King’s Diary Entry for the 22nd June 1921 being the day of the Opening of the first Northern Ireland Parliament June 1921
Rehearses the events of the day and concludes:
“Our visit has been a great success and everything has gone off beautifully, we really got a wonderful welcome and I never heard anything like the cheering.”
The full text of the Entry is as follows:
“At 11:30 left, with escort, for Belfast.
Wednesday, June 22 our Coronation day (10) HMY Victoria and Albert Holyhead to Belfast. 110
We anchored off Belfast at 6:30. At 9:30 we steamed up the Harbour and secured alongside Donegall Quay. Lord and Lady Fitzallan (Lord Lieutenant) came on board. Mary and I landed at 11:30 after inspecting the splendid Guard of Honour of RIC. We drove in our own carriage with four Greys with Lord Fitzallan...escorted by the 10th Hussars Colonel Seymour through beautifully decorated streets which were crowded with cheering people, who were most enthusiastic, to the City Hall where I Opened the new Northern Parliament of which Sir James Craig is the Prime Minister. I think my Speech was appreciated, and that I made an Appeal to the whole of Ireland for peace. We were present at a Luncheon given by Sarah James Craig at which we sat down 400.
We then drove to Ulster Hall where I received many Addresses and read one Reply to them all.
I then conferred some Honours and Knighthoods on different people.
We then drove back to the Quay but by a longer route and one embarked on Patriotic and went down the Harbour where we went on board the Yacht again at 4:30 and took our leave of Lord Lieutenant and all the other Officials.
Our Visit has been a great success and everything has gone off beautifully. We really got a wonderful welcome and I never heard anything like the cheering.
The weather was perfect, not too bad with a little breeze. We started at five and spent some time on deck going 16 knots. Quite smooth. Read the papers. We anchored of Holyhead at 12”
Owned by by Royal Collections Trust Collection Ref: RCIN GV/PRIV/GVD Images Used with Permission Royal Archives / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021