"Emotional" day ahead for royal couple on visit to Rutland
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will be the first of the late Queen's close family to visit the County's new memorial statue
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will be the first close family of the late Queen Elizabeth II to visit Rutland's new memorial to her.
They'll be visiting the historic sculpture, which is the first of the Queen to be commissioned since her death, on their trip to Rutland today (Tuesday 14th May).
The Duke and Duchess will also visit Rutland Showground, Oakham Castle and Oakham Library, as well as Rutland Water.
The Showground, Castle and library buildings will be closed to members of the public on the day of the visit.
The public will have the opportunity to see the royal couple when they visit Hywel Pratley's Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Statue at midday.
Catmose Street will be closed between Mill Street and Stamford Road from 9.00am to 3.00pm on Tuesday 14 May, with no parking available in bays opposite Oakham Library.
All other roads around Oakham and all public car parks will be open as normal.
Royal Commentator for Majesty Magazine, Caroline Aston, said: "Rutland waits with bated breath for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh..."
"...A moving moment for them, the first time they've paid a visit to Rutland, the smallest county in England, and of course one of the centrepieces of their visit will be going to see the wonderful statue of Queen Elizabeth II standing in full robes with two perky corgis standing beside her.
"For both of them, I'm sure, a memorable and emotional moment, particularly as we know how very close the Duchess of Edinburgh became to her mother-in-law during the Queen's last days.
"But this isn't just about that, it's a visit to Rutland in all of its flavours. They'll be going to historic Oakham Castle, which looks nothing like a castle of course in any of my fairy story books from childhood. No, the magnificent Norman Hall that's hung with honorary horseshoes, memorial horseshoes, which are traditionally rendered by lords and ladies of the realm and of course by royalty marking their visit..."
"...So it's an action-packed day for the Edinburgh's with an emotional centre to it as they look at this memorial, this very important memorial to a very great sovereign lady and Queen.
"Rutland extends a welcome to them both and I'm sure they'll go away echoing the county's proud motto, Multum in Parvo, much in little, and their day will be action packed and full of the flavour of this great little county."