The first visit to Norfolk Island by a reigning Monarch was on the 11th February 1974 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Norfolk Island.
The Royal yacht Britannia anchored in Sydney Bay in the early hours on 11 February 1974 and Her Majesty was transported ashore in an Administration Launch. Her Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness the Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh), Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne, and Captain Mark Phillips.
After arrival at Kingston Jetty Her Majesty was received by the Hon. Gordon Bryant, Minister for the Capital Territory. The Royal party then proceeded to the Kingston ports oval to attend a citizen’s welcome where His Honour Air Commodore Edward Pickard, the Administrator of Norfolk Island, received Her Majesty. The President of Committees of the Norfolk Island Council, Mr Wilfred Randall, OBE, read an address of welcome, after which Her Majesty replied. After mingling informally with the many hundreds of people who had gathered on the sports field for the occasion, the Royal Party then made a tour of the historic areas in Kingston during which the Queen laid a wreath on the cenotaph and named the Queen Elizabeth Lookout. A traditional Island-style picnic was held in the grounds of Government House where Her Majesty met descendants of the Pitcairn Islanders. The picnic was followed by a tour of the Island, and afterwards a concert in the grounds of Government House.
Her Majesty, with Prince Philip and other members of the Royal party, boarded Britannia in the later afternoon after farewells at the Kingston Jetty. As the Royal Yacht weighed anchored, a message was received from Her Majesty: Goodbye. Thank you for a lovely day. As we sail away Kingston looks beautiful.