Somerset is set to welcome Her Majesty The Queen as she makes a visit to the county today (Thursday, 28th March).
It is the first formal visit to Somerset by The Queen since her visit in 2012 as part of her Jubilee Tour of the UK.
Her Majesty is making visits to three venues today:
- Manor Farm Stables Yard in Ditcheat – where she will meet trainer Paul Nicholls and students from the University of Bath who are working on research projects on equestrian sport spinal injuries and racehorse welfare.
- Kings Bruton School in Bruton, which is celebrating its 500th birthday – where Her Majesty will open a new music school.
- Hauser and Wirth Gallery in Durslade Farm, Bruton, where The Queen will meet schoolchildren and an artist-in-residence.
- During the visit to the Kings Bruton School Her Majesty will meet members of Avon and Somerset Police’s mounted unit, where she will name a new police horse. She will also meet police horse Jubilee – the horse that she named during her 2012 visit to Yeovil during the Jubilee Tour of the UK.
Avon and Somerset’s Chief Constable Andy Marsh and Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens will be among a number of guests who will meet The Queen.
Somerset County Council will be putting some crowd pedestrian barriers and coning in place for the visit. No parking will be permitted in the centre of Bruton during the visit.
There may be slight delays as the Royal party moves from venues and those working and living in the area should plan accordingly.
Superintendent Rhys Hughes, police commander for the visit, said: “This is an opportunity for the people of Somerset to see Her Majesty for the second time in seven years.”
“We have to be mindful of the safety of both the royal visitors and the public on such occasions, while minimising the amount of disruption for those wishing to go about their normal daily business.”
“Our operation for the visit will follow well-rehearsed plans, which have involved several weeks of planning, working with partner organisations including Buckingham Palace, local agency partners and the Metropolitan Police.”
“This is likely to be one of the biggest events in the Somerset area for some time and we are sure the people of Somerset will give Her Majesty a warm welcome,” said Supt Hughes.
