XN000022-1975-03-29 — Page 6

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But the Queen introduced many changes into the style of her

reign to bring herself and the people closer together. It was from this

that the 'walkabouta' were conceived. They were tried out in Australia

and New Zealand, where the Queen met many people who would have had no

other opportunity of personal contact, and were an immediate success.

Nowadays, the whole exercise is spontaneous.

The Queen's tours have given her the opportunity of accumulating

over the years an unrivalled and unique experience.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a former Prime Minister and now the Earl

of Home, in a television interview, said: "The Queen has an ever-

lengthening experience. She knows every Commonwealth Prime Minister

from her tours in the Commonwealth and from Commonwealth meetings in

London, and I should think every Commonwealth statesman personally.'

This May, the Queen's visit to Hong Kong will add another

item to her immense store of personal knowledge of her overseas domains

and their people.