Eduardo Alberto de Saxonia-Coburgo-Gotha went into history as Eduardo VIII... in the image of the great Pacheco walking the street in front of the Nautico in its current location... which is currently called Montero Ríos (Photo Pacheco, Hermérico Association)

On January 19, 1931, accompanied by Pedro Barrié and Ricardo Rodríguez Pastor, they accompanied Prince Edward, who would be proclaimed King of Great Britain as Edward VIII... on a curious journey they made to Vigo, after presiding over the first stone of the monument dedicated to the British general John Moore, hero of the battle of Elviña of the War of Independence.

The British royal courtship came from Santander, where they had arrived after a long car trip from Paris, and from the Cantabrian city they embarked in the Oropese and arrived in the Herculine city. From there they went to Vigo occupying three vehicles, which stopped in Santiago de Compostela, before reaching the olive city.

The Viguese mayor Manuel San Román, when it was eight o'clock in the afternoon, received them in the Plaza de la Constitución, the seat of the old Municipal Pazo of the City... a square that was full of citizens who cheered the heir of the British crown, as the City Hall Band sounded the notes of the UK anthem.

The Viguese authorities subsequently offered Prince Eduardo and his entourage a gala dinner at the Continental Hotel... hence the expedition visited the social facilities of the Royal Nautical Club of Vigo, which were in those years on the outskirts of the Grand Hotel, located on the well-known Puerta del Sol.

The English entourage then went to the Continental Hotel, where the Prince of Wales sent mail before attending a dinner with the mayor of Vigo, the captain general of Galicia, the English consul in the city and the Coruñese bankers. The one that would be Edward VIII was undone in praise of the beauty of the Ria de Vigo, committing himself to donate two trophies with his name, for the sailing races of the Royal Nautical Club, as well as the International Hybrid Contest.

Manuel Pedro Seoane
Digital Nautical Editor