When the Queen returned to Kenya: The King’s visit comes 40 years after Elizabeth II was warmly welcomed… and returned to the ‘Treetops’ hotel where she became monarch in 1952 after the death of her father George VI

Standing close to the spot where she had become queen more than thirty years earlier, Elizabeth II wondered where all the trees had gone.

It was November 1983 and Her Majesty had returned to Kenya’s Treetops Hotel, where she had been in 1952 when her father, King George VI, died.

This time, she and Prince Philip walked through a large open space and were shocked at how much it had changed.

Philip asked, “Where have all the trees gone?” and was told by the lodge owner that elephants had pulled them up.

The original main building of the hotel itself had been burned down in 1954 by Mau Mau fighters who rebelled against British rule.

The stop at the rebuilt retreat came towards the end of the royal couple’s five-day visit to the country – their first since rushing to their destination 31 years earlier.

King Charles is two days into his own four-day visit to the country, as he joins Queen Camilla to repeat his mother and father.

His visit was partly overshadowed by protests and calls for an official apology for Britain’s alleged brutal suppression of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s.

The Queen received a warm welcome when she arrived in Nairobi with the Duke of Edinburgh.

Dressed in a bright yellow dress, she left the airport with Philip in the open car of the then Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi.

A crowd of thousands of Kenyans cheered them on. The Daily Mail told how at the time: ‘There was no mention of troubles or old differences… as the Queen spread magic through the busy city.’

At a state banquet on the day of her arrival, the Queen – then dressed in jade green – told dignitaries: ‘I still remember with gratitude the sympathy, support and encouragement which the people of Kenya gave me in 1952 when I so suddenly went aboard. about my new responsibilities.’

In 1952, Treetops was just a small clearing in a forest with a pond. Among them were both elephants and rhinos.

But things had changed so much when she returned with Philip that the queen wondered whether they had been taken to the right place.

On her last visit to Treetops, the Queen was still Princess Elizabeth. She is seen above in February 1952 with Prince Philip in the grounds of Sagana Lodge, near Treetops

The Queen inspects a guard of honor after her arrival in Nairobi in November 1983

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are shown around the ‘Treetops’ hotel by hunter Richard Prickett

The couple was surprised at how much the place had changed in the 31 years since they had last visited

The Mail reported how she told Philip: ‘It’s nothing like it used to be, darling?’

However, the pair did see antelope, buffalo and baboons. For protection they were accompanied by an armed hunter, although his weapon contained ‘only’ six bullets.

Before visiting the hotel, which was part of the Sangana estate, the Queen and Prince Philip were welcomed by thousands of factory workers and farmers in the industrial city of Thika.

According to reports at the time, some of the 25,000-strong crowd had walked as far as 40 kilometers from surrounding villages and stood in intense heat for four hours to catch a glimpse of the queen.

Queen Elizabeth II watches traditional dancers who entertained her with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport

Armistice Day was celebrated during the trip. Prince Philip salutes along with Kenyan officers

Queen Elizabeth II is seen with the Kenyan president as she is greeted by crowds in Nairobi

The Queen smiles during a conversation with the Kenyan President and Prince Philip ahead of a state banquet to mark her visit

The Queen arrives at Heathrow after returning from Kenya following the death of her father. She was met by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Labor leader Clement Atlee

A delighted station master who was shaken by the monarch told journalists: ‘I will do my best not to wash him. Meeting her is the greatest honor of my life.”

Prince Philip discovered that King George had died before the Queen after being told by an aide.

He then had to break the news to his wife, who had become queen without knowing it.

The pair – who were then at the nearby Sagana Lodge – quickly returned to Britain and were met at Heathrow by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Labor leader Clement Atlee.