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The Royal visit is now online

23 June 2009

YOU'VE waved your flag, looked at all the pictures... now you can watch the edited highlights of The Queen's visit to Dorset.

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, their arrival in Weymouth Harbour aboard a Sunseeker yacht and their tour of Weymouth beach are now all online at www.visitweymouth.co.uk.

The footage captured the moment the Queen met London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games chairman Sebastian Coe at the Academy, and filmed the excited crowds as they awaited the arrival of their monarch. The footage shows her meeting two little girls, who hand her flowers, and smiling at the crowds gathered for her visit.

The Queen speaks to local dignitaries and children learning to sail, and greets 2012 sailing hopefuls as she tours the Academy - home to the London 2012 water-based events.

The footage then shows the Royal couple arriving at Weymouth Harbour in a multi-million-pound Sunseeker yacht, and getting into a waiting car. Their arrival on the Esplanade is greeted by thunderous applause and excitement from the crowds of onlookers, who had been gathering for hours beforehand to catch a glimpse of the Queen, many clutching bouquets.

The film then shows The Royal Couple being introduced to sand sculptor Mark Anderson, and admiring the fantastic 20ft model he and his helpers carved of Windsor Castle. She meets donkey operator Maggie Aldridge and sees all the traditional seaside entertainment that has kept families amused since the days before her ancestor George III first made the resort so popular. Punch and Judy man Mark Poulton chats to The Queen with the aid of Mr Punch and she is then shown the entries for the sand castle contest by their excited young creators.

Cllr Brendan Webster, brief holder for Leisure, Tourism and Community Facilities, said: "The film shows just how the Borough must have appeared to Her Majesty - bathed in sunshine with thousands of smiling faces. It was a wonderful occasion and I think people will enjoy watching the highlights again and again."

Ends

For further information please contact Cllr Brendan Webster, brief holder for Leisure, Tourism and Community Facilities

T 01305 773622 M 07966 189738

E brendanwebster@weymouth.gov.uk

Press release issued by Miranda Robertson, Communications Officer

T 01305 838302

E mirandarobertson@weymouth.gov.uk

www.weymouth.gov.uk

Contact Details

Name: Miranda Robertson
Tel: 01305 838302
Email: mirandarobertson@weymouth.gov.uk

Third Party Issuer

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council