While I motored along the Sydenham by-pass yesterday morning at ten o'clock, a large cortege of police motor-cyclists followed closely by three black Range-Rovers with blue lights flashing overtook me. That normally indicates Royalty, a Head of State or the Prime Minister.
I discounted Brown, who was in the USA. I get most of the local news from the BBC Northern Ireland website. I checked it when I got home and there was no mention of a royal visit. Had I missed something? I know they chop and change their news site frequently. I would concede that it may have been mentioned on the Newsline television programme; however, since I do not watch that, I wouldn't have known.
I happened to be reading the Daily Telegraph today at lunch-time and, in the Court Circular, I read this entry:-
4th March, 2009
"The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, this morning attended a Reception at Hillsborough Castle for young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr. William Hall).
His Royal Highness this afternoon visited the Hilton Hotel, Belfast, to commemorate its Tenth Anniversary, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (the Lady Carswell).
The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, subsequently attended a Luncheon at the Hilton Hotel for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Northern Ireland.
His Royal Highness, Captain General, Royal Marines, this evening held a Dinner at Buckingham Palace to mark the Special Boat Service Association's Sixty Fifth Anniversary".
Whether or not BBC NI was gracious enough to provide us with information about Prince Philip's visit to the Province, I'm doing it myself. You'll possibly obtain more royal news from Lord Belmont than that lot!
2 comments :
The media are usually quite restricted on what they can say during a day long visit. Though it appeared as an online news story mid afternoon ... and UTV's Paul Clark was wandering up to the Hilton around lunchtime, so they must have covered it.
I certainly noticed the heavy security next door to work at the Hilton - thought at first it was a police conference ... and admired the artistry of the motorcyclists as they got into position and performed their choreographed dance of stopping traffic and escorting the Range Rovers. Could be an Olympic sport?!
Ha ha, those same motorcyclists were certainly quite deft at moving the traffic away from the outside lane, practising the royal wave with anyone in their way! :-)
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