Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, visited Mauritius for three days (24–26 March) in 1972, as part of a tour of Asia and Africa. They arrived in city of Port Louis on the royal yacht Britannia after visiting the Seychelles.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit to Mauritius was the last stop of a massive Tour of Southeast Asia, which began in Thailand, and was followed by visits to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, where Princess Anne returned to London while the Queen and Duke visited the Seychelles and Mauritius on board the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Queen and the Prince were welcomed by the then Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, and Gaëtan Duval, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lord Mayor of the capital.
The Queen was greeted by a crowd of nearly a quarter of a million people as she rode through the city in an open-topped car. It was the first ever visit to the island by a reigning monarch.
During her various trips to the island, thousands of Mauritians gathered along the streets to greet the English royals.
As part of her first official function in the former colony, Queen Elizabeth opened the parliamentary session of Mauritius followed by a visit to the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden.
The Queen also visited the Château de Réduit where she and the prince were treated to a banquet before the royal couple departed Mauritius.
