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News

Poole Hosts Royal Visit

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will be visiting Poole on Wednesday 28 July.

The Royal Party will be arriving at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, shortly before mid-day where they will be formally welcomed by the Mayor of Poole Councillor Les Burden, Sheriff of Poole Councillor Lou Knight, Poole MP Robert Syms and the Borough of Poole Chief Executive, John McBride.

Inside Lighthouse The Queen will receive a posy from Sea Cadet Katherine Skedgell before being introduced to the Chairman of Poole Arts Trust Lyn Glass, Chief Executive of Lighthouse Ruth Eastwood and civic leaders.

The Royal guests will conduct a tour of Lighthouse where they will view Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra rehearsing Les Miserables in the Wessex Hall and witness young people from The Poole Academy of Dance performing in the theatre.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will then move on to a civic reception of specially invited guests from Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset councils, local business, the voluntary and charity sector and various community organisations. At the entrance to the reception The Queen will be invited to witness the Twin Sails Poole lifting bridge model as part of an introduction to the Full Sail Ahead regeneration group of guests. The Mayor will then escort the Queen and the Borough of Poole Chief Executive will accompany the Duke of Edinburgh around the reception to meet the groups of guests.

Among the guests will be three local individuals who will have completed a Citizenship Ceremony earlier that morning in Lighthouse. By swearing an oath of allegiance to the Queen and signing the register, Mohammad Dobir Miah,  Alexandra Amadri Green and seven-year-old Roy Andre Michael Green will celebrate becoming British citizens.

The Mayor will give a short speech of welcome and invite the Queen to sign the visitor’s book and unveil a plaque commemorating the occasion. A gift from Poole Pottery will also be presented.

Mayor Les Burden said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to our town. I’m sure many people are delighted they have chosen to visit Lighthouse which the Queen first visited 25 years ago. It will definitely be a day to remember for young and old alike and I hope many people will come into Poole that day to enjoy this historic occasion.”

The Royal Party will then retire for lunch hosted by the Borough of Poole where The Queen and the Duke, along with more than 100 special guests, will enjoy local fare including Dorset saddle of lamb.

After lunch The Queen and Duke leave Lighthouse for the RNLI.

Operational Details

The public are welcome to view the arrival and departure of the Royal Party at Lighthouse from vantage points at either side of the entrance and from the opposite side of Kingland Road. Part of the carriageway may be closed for a short time depending on the number of wellwishers.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will arrive at the Lighthouse around 11.55am.

The Dolphin Swimming Pool surface car park in Kingland Road will be closed to the public during the visit.

Poole Quay will be dressed in bunting for the day to celebrate the royal visit. From around 3.30pm people will be able to watch from the Quayside as The Queen and Duke sail aboard a lifeboat – weather permitting – as part of her visit in the afternoon to the RNLI headquarters and training college.

Rachael Mills, Media Relations Officer, Marketing Services, Borough of Poole tel 01202 633 295