Today a Royal visit can go almost unnoticed. There are so many distractions in terms of media. Yet in the 1920's Princess Mary visited the town and the whole town seemed to turn out. She had come to open the new British Legion House in Falsgrave. She visited various places in the town then moved down to Foreshore Road.
"As the procession reached Sandside and passed through lines of spectators on Foreshore Road all the vessels in the harbour sounded their sirens and immediately the drifters raced out of port to escort the Princess round the Marine Drive, as though the movement had been rehearsed, the vessels stayed in line, their sirens sounding the whole time".
"A farewell 'hoot' was sounded as the procession turned to go to the cricket ground, the boats also turning to make for the fishing grounds".
The welcome was deeply appreciated by the Princess. Lord Downe wrote a letter to Alderman Whitehead. It went :
"Dear Alderman Whitehead, I feel that the commissioners should know that HRH Princess Mary greatly appreciated the welcome given to her at the harbour on Monday last, and that HRH was deeply impressed by the magnificent spectacle afforded by the escort of drifters steaming out to sea. This is a sight which noone fortunate enough to see will ever forget, one which I feel sure, will always be remembered by the kings daughter".
This was the first Royal visit to Scarborough in twenty years. But it was probably this welcome which ensured a quick return. In 1931 Princess Mary returned to Scarborough to launch the new Lifeboat, "Herbert Joy II".
- Scarborough Mercury September 1927.
