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| The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, addressing the recipients of Duke of Edinbugh Gold Awards at Government House??in 2011. (FP) |
Barbados will host the Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Prince and Princess Edward, as representatives of Her Majesty, The Queen on February 23 and 24, 2012, as part of Her Majesty’s sixtieth anniversary celebrations of her accession to the Throne. The Queen will only travel within the United Kingdom.??
During their two-day stay, the Royal Couple will attend a number of events to mark the occasion, the first of which will be a Joint Sitting of the Houses of Parliament on February 23, where the Members will receive a message from Her Majesty.
Later that morning, Their Royal Highnesses will open a special exhibition being coordinated by the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and mounted at The Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination. The exhibition’s theme is Looking back…looking forward: Sixty years of progress and achievements through Education – From the slate to the iPad. Day one will conclude with a State Dinner and Reception at Government House.
The Countess, who is associated with several organisations dealing with sensory, learning and communication disabilities, will pay a visit to the Albert Graham Development Centre at Ladymeade Gardens on the second day. Meanwhile, The Earl will preside over a morning ceremony at Government House where the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards will be presented to eight young persons.
On that same morning, Kensington Oval will be the venue for the unveiling of a plaque by Prince Edward in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee. While at the Oval, Their Royal Highnesses will also meet and be entertained by students from neighbouring schools.
Also on February 24, the Royal Couple will visit the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum and the Mikvah (spiritual bath) located in Bridgetown, which, along with the historic Garrison Savannah, was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List last year.
Given the Countess’ role as Regimental Colonel-in-Chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, Their Royal Highnesses will tour the Prince Cave Hall, home of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Band before departing the island later that evening.
During 2012 as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, the Earl and Countess of Wessex will also visit Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Montserrat.