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THE QUEEN’S DUBBO THRONE
Paul Dunlop holding a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and standing next to the chair she sat on during her 1992 visit. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS
By TIJANA BIRDJAN WHEN Queen Elizabeth II’s visited Dubbo three decades ago – on February 21, 1992 – Granny’s House owner Paul Dunlop was asked to provide a royal throne for the special day. “It was an honour to be asked to use the chair,” Paul says, adding that tour organisers needed something small enough for the Queen
to do her signings. “We happened to have this one,”. Paul says he got a certificate from council as a commemoration for letting them borrow the significant chair. Paul tells Dubbo Photo News the chair was built in 1860 in a set of four, he restored the chair over 35 years ago and had it in stock. “It’s funny because now we keep it at home as a regular chair that
people sit on and it still is in very good condition,” he said. He was speaking to his daughter on the weekend and the Queen’s visit came up in conversation and he says she was excited to hear about it. “I either must never have told her, or she might’ve forgotten, but it’s an event that will always remain unique.” Paul says that when he left
school, he became a polisher and eventually enrolled in TAFE to study French polishing. Throughout his schooling years, he enjoyed woodwork and took his craft home to teach himself. Reminiscing back on the Queen’s visit, Paul says that even though there were not a lot of restoration shops, he considers himself extremely lucky to be selected to provide a throne.
Back to the present and the Queen has issued an historic Platinum Jubilee statement which ends years of uncertainty, stating that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will become Queen Consort when Prince Charles is crowned as King. Marking her 70 years on the throne, she hopes support for the monarchy will be undiminished when Charles and Camilla continue the legacy.
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