11/20/2009 11:11:00 AM Royal fever sweeps BDA as we await Queen's visit
Holding court: Her Majesty looked in good spirits as she arrived at the state opening of parliament in London on Wednesday, where she gave her annual Queen’s Speech.
• Reuters photo.
After six months of meticulous behind-the-scenes planning, the island is ready to welcome the Queen.
Organisations have been hard at work preparing for next week's royal visit.
It is one of the biggest and most significant events they have ever put together.
A buzz is now sweeping the island as everyone gears up for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's arrival on Tuesday.
The three-day tour to mark the island's 400th anniversary includes King's Square, the Town Hall and King's Square in St. George's and the Clocktower, Commissioner's House and the Spirit of Bermuda in Dockyard.
The royals will also attend a 400th anniversary service at the Cathedral, plant a tree at Government House and attend a state dinner at Tucker's Point.
Joanna Cranfield, assistant manager of business development at WEDCO, said the royal visit is the culmination of about six months of top-secret planning.
She said: "It's been a lot of work - tweaking, chasing, planning and preparing.
"Trying to organise so many children has been the greatest challenge - we've had to get them to do rehearsals when they have not known what they were rehearsing for.
"Up until now it has been on a need to know basis. But everything has gone very smoothly and now we are all prepared."
At the Clocktower Building, the Queen will be treated to a traditional Bermudian wedding reception, a presentation on apprentices trained at Dockyard and a dramatised history of Dockyard, all carried out by pupils from Sandys Middle School.
Ms Cranfield said: "We're delighted she is visiting Dockyard as it is not only Bermuda's 400th anniversary but Dockyard's 200th anniversary. It's very exciting."
The Bermuda Regiment ordered its 600 soldiers of all ranks to be on-island to help with "different stages of the visit".
Public Relations Officer Major George Jones said most soldiers would be involved "in the first 24 hours" as the Queen arrives and travels around St. George's.
Her Majesty will be welcomed with a Quarter Guard at the airport then receive an Honour Guard at St. George's.
Major Jones, who will be the parade commander in St. George's, said soldiers had been practising their drill movements for weeks.
He added: "There has been a lot of work, co-ordination and preparation involved for this visit, working behind the scenes on all the logistics.
"It's a huge honour and a privilege as an individual and for my military career. I'm very pleased and touched I'll be at the front."
Saltus Grammar School principal Ted Staunton said there was "a real buzz" among his students, who will be lining the roadside to welcome the royals.
Up to 400 Saltus primary pupils will stand on Woodbourne Avenue on Wednesday and at least 600 senior students will be on St. John's Road on Thursday.
Mr. Staunton said: "This is a very special and historic event and we are honoured to be taking part.
"The roads are going to be very crowded. We are going to be there waving flags and cheering.
"There are no flags left on the island, everywhere has sold out.
"The students are very excited, especially the younger ones. They are all keen to catch a glimpse of the Queen."
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Comment by:
JAMES
What do you all think the Queen of England will think of a country where violent crimes, such as murder, gang violence, rape, burglaries, etc. are a weekly occurrence? The Queens might just decide that it is too dangerous to visit the Rock!
