My Dad and Princess Margaret

Bud Payne, March 1951

On the evening of 13th July, 1953 I was standing at the edge of a dance floor with umpteen other likely lads, when a petite and comely young woman walked by. She looked – not glanced – at me, and I at her for a second or two until she was past, and I was slightly embarrassed. She died yesterday. Among other things I was wearing one of the nicest pairs of shoes I’ve ever owned : Crockett & Jones classic Oxford front black, but they were half a size too big for me and therefore stuffed with old newspaper.

Bud Payne, 10 February 2002

PRINCESS MARGARET AT A BALL

Princess Margaret, 13th July 1953

Princess Margaret wore a 10-tier evening dress of white lace sprinkled with sequins when she attended a young people's ball at Government House, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. The ball, attended by more than 800 young people from the age of 17 upwards, was given in her honour. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, attended also. At the request of the Princess a number of Scottish reels and square dances were included in the programme.

Canberra Times (ACT), 25 Jul 1953

Princess Dances Reels

Princess Margaret, radiant and animated, led her partners expertly through the steps of Scottish reels at a young people's ball in Government House. The Princess, who had just recovered from a heavy cold, led any hesitant partner in the right direction with a nod of the head. An African police band provided the music.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 16 July 1953

Princess Radiant at Young People's Ball

The Queen Mother, Governor General and Princess Margaret
13th July 1953

The Princess entered the ballroom accompanied by her mother. She was dressed in a lace-frilled gown, with a diamond tiara, and wore the blue ribbon sash of the Victorian Order.

The West Australian (Perth), 15 July 1953

References

[1] Head and shoulders portrait of Charles Bernard "Bud" Payne (1928-2006), Unmounted silver gelatin print, 77.5 x 101.0 mm, by unidentified photographer, dated March 1951, Collection of Barbara Ellison.

[2] Payne, C.B. (2002) Letter to Brett Payne, dated 10 February 2002 at Marondera, Zimbabwe, Collection of Brett Payne.

[3] Full length portrait of Princess Margaret (1930-2002) at Government House, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, Press photograph by unidentified photographer, 13 July 1953, Collection of Roman Benedik Hanson & QueensImages.

[4] Newspaper Extracts, Australia Trove, National Library of Australia.

[5] Full length portrait of the Queen Mother, the Governor General and Princess Margaret at Government House, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, Press photograph by unidentified photographer, 13 July 1953, Collection of Roman Benedik Hanson & QueensImages.