Ceremonies - 1925 Edward Prince of Wales
Royal Tour
30 April – 29 July 1925
The young Prince of Wales, later to abdicate as King Edward VIII,
visited South Africa in 1925. It was a grand affair with large welcomes
at the all the extravagantly decorated towns he visited between his
arrival on April 30th and his departure almost 3 months later on 29th
July.
Using two beautiful carriages built by the South African Railways, the
Royal Party toured Southern Africa visiting Cape Province, the Orange
Free State, Basutoland, Natal, Transvaal, Swaziland, Southern &
Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The Prince met
local Royalty, visited Victoria Falls, played Golf and enjoyed exuberant
African welcomes throughout his visit.
Prince Edward school was established in 1898 as Salisbury Grammar. It
was renamed Salisbury High School in 1906 and adopted its current name
in 1925 when visited by Edward VIII, who was Prince of Wales at the
time.
Between 30th April and 29th July 1925 the Prince toured Southern Africa.
On a Royal train provided by the South African Railways, he visiting
Cape Province, the Orange Free State, Basutoland, Natal, Transvaal,
Swaziland, Southern & Northern Rhodesia and the Bechuanaland
Protectorate.
Travelling Post Office
1925 Royal Tour
The Royal Train had its own Post Office, situated within a travelling
post office van attached to a pilot train that kept ahead of the Royal
Train by around 30 minutes. The post office was open 24 hours per day.
Approximately 9,000 articles (including Official Mail) were handled by
the office, averaging 100 articles per day.
Postal Staff
C J Swift – Postmaster (Rhodesia)
Mr Harpham – Assistant
Mr Murrell – Assistant
Mr Cripham – Assistant
| Location | Arrival Date |
| Bulawayo | 29/06/1925 |
| Fort Victoria | 2/7/1925 |
| Umvuma | 2/7/1925 |
| Central Estates | 2/7/1925 |
| Enkeldoorn | 5/7/1925 |
| Range | 5/7/1925 |
| Central Estates | 5/7/1925 |
| Umvuma | 6/7/1925 |
| Gwelo | 6/7/1925 |
| Salisbury | 7/7/1925 |
| Gatooma | 10/7/1925 |
| Que Que | 10/7/1925 |
| Bulawayo | 10/7/1925 |
| Bulawayo | 17/07/1925 |