THE MARSTERS OF PALMERSTON
Royal Connections
Royal Connections
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PALMERSTON THE MARSTERS LEGACY MARSTER OF ALL HE SURVEYS
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
PALMERSTON THE MARSTERS LEGACY MARSTER OF ALL HE SURVEYS
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
WILLIAM MARSTERS: "LOST SHEEP" OF THE ROYAL FAMILY?
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Louis Moutbatten visited Palmerston in 1972, arriving on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Islanders have had a special affection for the Crown since Queen Victoria granted a lease to founding father, William Marsters at the end of the 19th century...but since this visit, they've also claimed a direct link to British Royal Family.
While I can't verify any link independently, the stories I've been told are fascinating and the purpose of this page is to share them with you and leave you to make up your own mind.
According to Yolande Browne, great great granddaugher of William Marsters by his first wife, the Royal visitors were astonished when they saw a photo of patriarch. She says:
While I can't verify any link independently, the stories I've been told are fascinating and the purpose of this page is to share them with you and leave you to make up your own mind.
According to Yolande Browne, great great granddaugher of William Marsters by his first wife, the Royal visitors were astonished when they saw a photo of patriarch. She says:
Palmerston visitors...
the late Lord Moutbatten and HRH Prince Philip
the late Lord Moutbatten and HRH Prince Philip
ROYAL HUGS
When HRH Princess Alexandra (left) and her husband, Sir Angus Ogilvy visited New Zealand about 30 years ago, the Princess asked specifically about the Marsters family. She had been watching a display of traditional Cook Islands dancing, at the end of which she was presented with gifts. The teenager, 'Nafi', who made the presentation was asked if she knew of the Marsters family and when she said yes, she was given a big hug and kiss by the royal couple.
Nafi is a sister of Yolande Browne to whom I am grateful for this and many of the other stories on this page. "It was so cool to know that they acknowledged our great great grandfather's family", she says proudly.
Nafi is a sister of Yolande Browne to whom I am grateful for this and many of the other stories on this page. "It was so cool to know that they acknowledged our great great grandfather's family", she says proudly.
CROWNING GLORY...ALMOST!
When Elizabeth was crowned Queen in 1953, one of William's sons was invited to attend the coronation in London. The son was very old by then, so his son (William's grandson) took the invite But he forgot to tell the Palace that he was attending instead of his father and was refused entry.
ANCHORS AWAY
The former Royal Yacht Britannia anchored off Palmerston in 1965, while the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the funeral in Tonga of Queen Salote. All the islanders were invited to take a VIP tour of the royal vessel.
In an 1998 letter from Palmerston, the Rev. Bill Marsters adds a further dimension to the story. Referring to William's mother, Ann Armstrong, he says Lord Moutbatten told him Armstrong was a name which originated with the Royal Family of Scotland. "So according to him", he writes, "Ann Armstrong my ancestor was of Royal blood". Bill has also done his own research and says he's discovered that Ann's ancestors were related to King James VI of Scotland (King James I of England).
PRINCE PHILIP'S LEGACY
Prince Philip's visit lives on in daily life on Palmerston. While he was on the island, he swam in a a sea pool which is now named after him. I'm also told he also had a go at eating paw paw (papaya) with his fingers and thoroughly enjoyed the fruit. Unfortunately, no photos exist of what I'm sure must have been an entertaining experience!
ROYAL HOLIDAYS
The Duke of Edinburgh's visit is remembered every year with a public holiday called "Duke's Day". And that's not the only celebration of Palmerston's royal links. Instead of marking the Queen's Birthday (Queen Elizabeth II) like the rest of the Cook Islands, they mark the birthday of Queen Victoria, who first leased the Island to William Marsters back in 1892. The special public holidays are also the islanders' way of asserting their independence from the rest of the nation, and underlining their firece loyalty to the British Crown.
Yolanda Browne (centre) with two of her sisters, Stella (left) and Caroline.
"They went into his house and saw his photo on the wall. They stood in front of the photo and took three steps back and bowed to the photo and said this is our 'lost sheep'."
