On the morning of the 1st of June 1950 the boys of Sherborne School settled down to two periods of study before assembling in bright sunshine to await the arrival of the King and Queen, whose visit would mark the four hundredth anniversary of the granting of a royal charter. The Abbey bells informed the entire town that the royal train had arrived at the station. Their Majesties were met by the Lord Lieutenant who presented the school Governors; they then drove to the school through the crowded and flag decked streets of the town.
With perfect timing the cars carrying the royal party pulled up at the Main Gates at exactly 12.45 p.m. A guard of honour made up of representatives of the navy and army sections of the Combined Cadet Force gave the royal salute and the school band played the National Anthem. The Headmaster, Canon A.R Wallace, was then presented to Their Majesties who inspected the guard and commented on its excellent turn-out.
The Royal Standard was broken on the flag-staff as the King and Queen entered the Courts of the school. The boys were lined up on one side and on the other were gathered the masters, their wives and other guests; for a brief moment there was silence but this was followed by cheers while Their Majesties made their way to the Headmaster’s House. After a brief rest they were escorted to the big schoolroom, where they had lunch with the Headmaster and his wife and some eighty senior boys.
Their Majesties then began a tour of the school passing through the Undercroft and Cloisters, where they posed for amateur photographers before entering the Chapel, then on to the Library where they both signed the King’s Book. At the bottom of the Chapel steps the masters and their wives were presented, after which the school dispersed while the King and Queen continued their tour. They visited the Carpenter’s Shop, the Swimming Baths, the Art School, and the Biology Laboratory and stopped to speak to the boys who were carrying on their usual school activities. The tour took in a visit to Westcott House, where they were welcomed by the house master, Mr R. S. Thompson and his wife.
Later in the afternoon the royal party drove down to the Games Fields; leaving their car at the Memorial Gates they went across to watch some of the boys playing cricket and had tea in the Pavilion. They walked back to their car through a line of children from other Sherborne schools. Back in their car they drove slowly to the gates and received the cheers of the school as they left.
The following day a letter was received from Buckingham Palace, thanking the school for their very friendly welcome and saying how greatly the King and Queen had enjoyed their visit.
