Rare BECAUSE This Royal Tour NEVER HAPPENED Poor old King George the 6th became seriously unwell & could not travel

HAD HE done-so?

He would have been the FIRST Reigning Monarch to EVER visit Kiwiland.

The King remained unwell & eventually died in 1952

The stress of the war had taken its toll on George's health, made worse by his heavy smoking, & subsequent development of lung cancer among other ailments, including arteriosclerosis & Buerger's disease. A planned tour of Australia & NZ was postponed after George developed an arterial blockage in his right leg, which threatened the loss of the leg & was treated with a right lumbar sympathectomy in March 1949. His elder daughter & heir presumptive, Elizabeth, took on more royal duties as her father's health deteriorated. The delayed tour was re-organised, with Princess Elizabeth & her husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, taking the place of the King & Queen.

An identical Koala Mug DISPLAYED at a local Coromandel MUSEUM

Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga

Coffee cup, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Royal Tour

About this object

Cream cup; Terracotta rim; Brown handle with hanging Koala

Dimensions: 7.5cm x 8cm x 10.5cm

Middle: Sepia portrait of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth facing left

The portraits sit in the centre of a sepia map of Australia & NZ Sepia crown sits above maps & portrait & is in the middle of a ribbon with brown writing 'Souvenir' 'of the'

Below the maps & portrait is another ribbon with brown writing 'Royal Tour 1949'. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Royal Tour of New Zealand & Australia 1949

Base: Brentleigh Ware Staffordshire England Reg No: 854586

Maker Brentleigh Ware

Date Made 1949

Place Made Staffordshire England

Named Collection

Royal Souvenir Crockery

Object Type

Coffee Cup - Royal Souvenir