THE Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will return to Liverpool this month on an official visit to mark the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.
It is a rare second visit in less than six months, following their attendance at the Royal Variety Show held at the Empire Theatre in December last year.
Her Majesty and Prince Philip will spend the day in the city on May 22, when they will visit the Philharmonic Hall and St George’s Hall as well as the new Liverpool One complex, and officially open the Echo Arena Liverpool and BT Convention Centre.
The Royal train will arrive at Lime Street station at 10am and the party will head for the waterfront to unveil a plaque at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, at the Kings Dock.
From there, they go on to Liverpool One around 11am, where the Duke will perform the topping-out ceremony of the latest building in the project to be completed.
Outside St George’s Hall, the Queen will be entertained by Viennese ball dancers and bands taking part in the Streetwaves project, before joining 200 guests for lunch, including representatives from the arts and cultural life of the city.
She will arrive at the Philharmonic Hall just before 2pm.
The Queen is the patron of the RLPO, and a brass quintet from its youth orchestra will play a welcome fanfare on Hope Street as she arrives at Philharmonic Hall.
The welcoming party will include RLPO president Lord Derby, chairman Lorraine Rogers and chief executive Mick Elliott.
On entering the hall, The Queen will listen to the youth choir, conducted by Simon Emery, and will then be escorted to the auditorium where, along with an audience of representatives from the Phil's associated ensembles, supporters, funders and partners, the Royal party will hear a short performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, of Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn.
Mrs Rogers, chairman of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic said: “It is wonderful recognition for the Phil that The Queen should honour us by visiting Philharmonic Hall in her capacity as our patron.
“We have a great opportunity to showcase the orchestra as well as some of the brilliant young musicians in our youth orchestra and choir, and we are looking forward to sharing in person with our Patron, news of our successes, achievements and future plans.”
ACC Liverpool chief executive Bob Prattey said: “It’s an enormous privilege to be welcoming the Queen and we are looking forward to showing her around.
“ACC Liverpool is a magnificent symbol of the city’s rebirth and we’re sure Her Majesty will be left with a sense of the impact it’s already made.”
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The visits to ACC, St George’s Hall and Liverpool One are being promoted as ideal locations for the public to greet the Royal visitors.
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