Visit to Sao Paulo and Campinas – November 6-8, 1968

  Queen Elizabeth II rides in an open car in São Paulo (Municipal Public Archives, São Paulo)

November 6 – Wednesday

The Royal couple arrived in São Paulo at 14:45. They visited the Ipiranga Monument, allusive to Brazilian Independence, and the Itália Building, one of the tallest in Brazil. In the evening, Governor Abreu Sodré offered a ceremonial welcoming banquet at the Bandeirantes Palace in honour of the royal couple. On the occasion, famous popular singers Wilson Simonal, Jair Rodrigues and Elza Soares performed to the Queen and the Duke.

November 7 – Thursday

Queen Elizabeth II delivers a speech at the inauguration of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo – MASP (Municipal Public Archives, São Paulo)

From the Bandeirantes Palace, where the royal couple were staying, they went on to visit of the laboratories of the British pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome do Brasil. Following the visit, the Queen inaugurated the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), one of the chief visual arts institution in Brazil. The royal couple then proceeded to the airport.  At 13:40, they boarded a Royal Air Force aircraft to Campinas.

There, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Agricultural Research Institute and the Santa Elisa Farm. They spent the night at the Santa Eudóxia Ranch.

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Agricultural Research Institute, in Campinas (Municipal Archives, Campinas)

November 8 – Friday

The second day in Campinas started with a horse ride at the Santa Eudóxia Ranch and a visit to the Jockey Club. At 14:45, the royal couple took off from the Viracopos Airport bound for the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, where they landed at 16:00.