Sir Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke, the third Raja (Rajah) of Sarawak (on the island of Borneo) returns with his wife (the Rani/Ranee) to the capital Kuching after four years in Australia, and they receive an enthusiastic welcome.

Having arrived by Sunderland flying boat the Raja and Rani board a launch named Karina from a smaller boat. Aboard the Karina with high officials and officers. A brief glimpse of a guard of honour of 9th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment marching away. The band of the Sarawak Constabulary march away. A guard of sailors of the Royal Navy Algerine Class minesweeper HMS Pickle march past; a Sikh cameraman can be seen in the background. A procession of female Chinese students. A procession of schoolchildren led by a banner which reads 'Catholic Schools Mission'. A decorative arch at Pangkalan Batu is marked 'Welcome to their Highnesses the Rajah and Ranee from all communities'. The Raja and Rani stepping from a small boat and boarding a waiting car. The car departs. The Karina motors slowly upstream; she is flying flags and local people on river boats wave vigorously. The Raja step onto a pontoon jetty; in the foreground a bearer of the Sarawak Constabulary unfurls a 'traditional yellow umbrella' (from the dopesheet) and escorts the Raja. The Raja removes his hat for the Sarawak national anthem. A naval officer, possibly Lieutenant Wheeler (Royal Navy, commanding the naval guard of honour) and an officer of the 9th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment. The Raja inspects the guard of honour accompanied by Brigadier E C J Woodford, Lieutenant-Colonel Hobbs (commander 9th Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment), Major Abbs and Major Sochon. He inspects the Sarawak Constabulary. He inspects sailors of HMS Pickle. The Raja's car passes under an arch marked 'Welcome to their Highnesses the Rajah and Ranee' and a placard nearby reads 'Our destiny at present and future must be associated with the Rajah and successors'. Footage from a moving jeep as it passes a number of people playing small hand drums. As the jeep continues along a road (with the Raja's car in front) a variety of banners can be read, including: 'A people's rights should be respected', 'No cession', 'No cession - Art[icle] III Atlantic Charter [i.e. the right to self-determination] must be observed', 'The Rajah loves the people', ' We love the Rajah', 'Sarawak is our blood and soul', 'Long live the Rajah', 'The Sarawak sovereignty was bound by the Brooke rule'. More crowds waving flags; they are a black and red cross on a yellow field.

Notes

Sir Charles Brooke's greatuncle was Sir James Brooke, the first Raja. James Brooke, an army officer of considerable wealth, had been given sovereignty over Sarawak in 1841 by the Sultan of Brunei after helping to put down a rebellion. His nephew Sir Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke would be the second Raja.

At the time this film was shot a series of constitutional reforms was in progress, and Brooke was being pressured to cede his sovereignty to the Crown. He did so in July 1946, against the opposition of a majority of the local parliament.

An interesting glimpse of an aspect of the political unrest widespread in south east Asia in this period.