The Queen visited Papua New Guinea for the first time in February 1974, and again in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee tour, when she toured the capital Port Moresby, Popondetta and Alotau. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited again in October 1982.

Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975, but retained The Queen as Sovereign. Independence celebrations were attended by The Prince of Wales, as Her Majesty's special representative.

The Duke of Edinburgh visited the country in the course of an extended Commonwealth tour which lasted from October 1956 until February 1957.