Professional Photographer Bill Johnson on Assignment in Rarotonga March 1974

Professional Photographer Bill Johnson on Assignment in Rarotonga during the 5th SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM. Rarotonga, Cook Islands. 20 – 22 March 1974.

Renowned International Professional Photographer Bill Johnson was the Official Cook Islands Government Photographer during H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Lord & Lady Brabourne during their Royal Yacht Britannia's Tour during 1971.
In January 1974, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips stopped off at Rarotonga for two days, and Bill once again was asked to be the Official Cook Islands Government photographer for the Royal Tour, which would included the Official Opening of the Rarotonga International Airport by The Queen, and also to be the Official Photographer for the Knighthood of Sir Albert Henry KBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This is the only Knighthood ever to be preformed in the Cook Islands by a Royal to date.
In 1976, H.M. Royal Yacht 'Britannia' arrived for a second time in Rarotonga, and Bill was asked by Sir Albert Henry, Premier of the Cook Islands to board the Royal Yacht with Customs and Immigration Officer's, and the Government's Liaison Officer, and they were all 'officially piped on board' Royal Yacht 'Britannia.'
Rear-Admiral Hugh Janion the ship's commander invited them to meet him on the wing of the ships bridge (usually totally off limits to public) while Customs & Immigration Officers cleared the Royal Yachts arrival.
While the Liaison Officer and Bill were welcoming the Rear-Admiral and the Royal Yacht Britannia to Rarotonga, she pulled her anchor off the edge of the reef, and consequently, 'they were treated with a short cruise and the re-anchoring of the Royal Yacht, something which very few people would have ever experienced apart from the Royal Family.' The ships photographer gave Bill a tour of the ship before returning to ashore, and
Bill reciprocated by offering the ships photographer a personalised tour of Rarotonga before their departure time.