ROYAL WALKABOUT.
THE QUEEN HEADED FOR THE MERCHANT'S QUAY FOR THE THE FINAL PART OF HER WALKABOUT . HERE , APART FROM THE ANCHORED ZEBU AND HER CREW , THERE WAITED A HOST OF PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN ORGANISING THE FAMOUS MARITIME FESTIVALS WHICH HAD BROUGHT SUCH ATTENTION TO THE TOWN SINCE 1999.
AS THE ROYAL PARTY APPROACHED, THE CREW OF THE TALL SHIP DISPLAYED THEIR SKILLS ALOFT IN THE RIGGING , AN EXERCISE THAT MANY A SAILOR OUT OF OLD WHITEHAVEN MUST HAVE PERFORMED IN MUCH MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE.
ON THE QUAY THE QUEEN PRESENTED A FRAMED REPORT OF THE INFAMOUS JOHN PAUL JONES RAID ON THE HARBOUR TO CAPTAIN JOHN MILLER, DEFENCE ATTACHE AT THE US EMBASSY.
MEANWHILE THE GUARD OF HONOUR PROCEEDED TO MARCH AROUND TO THE QUAY TO JOIN THE ROYAL PARTY.
BY WHICH TIME THE ROYAL PARTY WERE SEATED AND THE TOWN CRIER GAVE THE LOCAL VERSION OF THE 1778 RAID BY THE AMERICANS.
THE WHITEHAVEN SEA CADETS AND THE US COLOUR PARTY DREW UP BEFORE THE QUEEN FOR INSPECTION AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS IT WAS EYES ALOFT AS THE CROWDS WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE SKILLS OF RAF FIGHTER PILOTS.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE WHOLE EVENT THE ONE O CLOCK GUN HAD BEEN USED TO SIGNAL DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE QUEEN SEEMS TO HAVE HAD AN INTERESTING CHAT WITH THE FELLOW IN CHARGE OF SAME.
THEN BEGAN A CASUAL SAUNTER BACK TOWARDS THE ROYAL CAR DURING WHICH TIME THE QUEEN AND DUKE TOOK TIME TO MEET WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CROWD.
THANKFULLY THE EVENT WAS BLESSED WITH GOOD WEATHER AND THE ROYAL OCCASION WENT AS PLANNED, A TRIBUTE YET AGAIN TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES. MANY WERE SEEING THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND THE CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR WERE GIVEN AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE WHICH THEY CLEARLY ENJOYED..... MUCH MORE THAN THE TIME OFF SCHOOL. THE CHEERS FOR THE DEPARTING ROYAL VISITORS WERE JUST AS RESOUNDING AS THEY HAD BEEN EARLIER.
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UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN MA'AM.......GOD BLESS!