A hundred years ago | Australia’s new capital

Rugby, July 20: It is officially announced that the Duke and Duchess of York will visit Australia on the occasion of the official opening of the Federal Capital at Canberra on May 9th next. The invitation to their Royal Highnesses was conveyed in a telegram from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth to the Secretary of State for the Dominions Affairs for submission to the King. It recalls that the King himself opened the first Federal Parliament of Australia in 1901. The telegram proceeds, “We would regard it as singularly appropriate, if your son were permitted to represent you at the establishment of the Federal Capital, which marks another important phase in the development of this great British Commonwealth and is regarded by our people as an event of deep national significance and importance. We feel that the presence of His Royal Highness on such an occasion would evoke the strongest possible expressions of loyalty and enthusiasm and further strengthen the bonds which unite us to the mother country and to your Royal House.”

Published - July 21, 2026 12:20 am IST