This badge was made to commemorate the cancelled March 1949 royal visit to New Zealand by King George V1 – which would have been the first ever by a reigning monarch.

However, the trip was called off because of the king’s ill health so it is commonly referred to as The Tour That Never Happened.

A shortened tour was planned for May 1952, and when the king again fell ill it was decided Princess Elizabeth would come instead.

However, at the first stop on this tour, in Africa, the young princess learned of her father's death and she returned home.

She visited here as queen in 1953-54.

The badge is a 27mm diameter badge with long pin with Royal Visit at top and Kia Ora 1949 at bottom.

There is an image of a large Maori carved face with a super-imposed crown in the centre, with two small Maori similar heads each side near the rim.

The background is green.

It is in very good condition for its age.

We are clearing out British royal family items collected randomly over the past 50 or so years.

Please note that the photographs constitute part of the description so check them carefully.

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