THE ROYAL NAVY'S TRAFALGAR 200 EVENTS
12 Oct 2005 12:15 PM
At 8am Nelson's famous signal 'England expects...' will be raised in
HMS VICTORY, and the traditional memorial service will take place on
board at 8.45am. At 11am wreaths will also be laid at Nelson's tomb
in St Paul's Cathedral. Spain will lead commemorative events in Cadiz
and off Cape Trafalgar with the Royal Navy fully represented.
Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh will be
attending a reception and Trafalgar Night dinner on board HMS VICTORY
in Portsmouth. Prior to dinner she will light the National
'Trafalgar Weekend' Beacon, witness a special Beat Retreat by the
Band of HM Royal Marines and the firing of a theatrical 52-gun ripple
broadside from HMS VICTORY.
Sunday 23 October
'The Trafalgar Parade' in Trafalgar Square from 11am will see the Sea
Cadets joined in their annual parade by Royal Navy and Reservist
personnel together with the Band of HM Royal Marines. HRH the Duke
of York, Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, will be the Inspecting
Officer and lead the laying of wreaths at Nelson's Column.
'The Trafalgar Service' in St Paul's Cathedral at 3pm will be
attended by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince
of Wales accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of York,
The Princess Royal and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
Afterwards, The Lord Mayor of London will hold a reception in the
Guildhall, attended by HRH The Princess Royal.
- 'The Spirit of Nelson' - starts in Trafalgar Square from 6.30pm.
In the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Edinburgh and
Prince Michael of Kent, a public audience of 10,000 will witness the
'grand finale' of the Royal Navy's Trafalgar 200 programme. With a
youth focus, many children will enjoy an exciting and dynamic show
that celebrates 200 years of British maritime endeavour. There will
be daring physical performance, including acrobatic 'free runners',
special sound and light effects. Victory at Trafalgar will end the
show, with Nelson's Column spectacularly illuminated.
PROGRAMME
THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER
1000 -1100 First Sea Lord Sir Alan West photo call with "Living
statue" of Lord Nelson Trafalgar Square.
1900 - Trafalgar Night Dinner in the Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval
College Greenwich, with CINCFLEET as the Guest of Honour
FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER
Trafalgar Day at HMS VICTORY
From 0600 - TV and radio coverage from HMS VICTORY
0800 - Colours and Nelson's "England Expects" signal hoisted in HMS
VICTORY. 0845 - 2SL Church Service onboard HMS VICTORY
incorporating the laying of wreaths on quarterdeck, where Nelson fell
and on the orlop deck, where he later died. (TV and radio coverage).
1000 - 1200 Special, free access, limited opening of HMS VICTORY to
821 members of the General Public, who will each receive a
commemorative certificate.
1000 - 1530 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard open to general public at
reduced cost (not all areas open).
1400 - First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West formally opens
Trafalgar Gate at HMNB Portsmouth
1500 - Presentation of the Wedgwood Trafalgar Vase to The First Sea
Lord by Lord Wedgwood in HM Naval Base Portsmouth Victory Arena.
1700 - Guests, naval families (by ticket only) and children arrive
in preparation for arrival of HM the Queen.
1800 - HM the Queen, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, arrive for
reception at the VICTORY Gallery for all guests attending Trafalgar
Night dinners on board HMS VICTORY and in the Royal Naval Museum.
1845 - National Beacon lit by HM The Queen beside HMS VICTORY
setting off chain of beacons nationwide.
Beat Retreat by The Band of HM Royal Marines, a simulated 52 cannon
ripple broadside will be fired from HMS Victory, witnessed by dinner
guests, naval families Sea Cadets and local schoolchildren. Live TV
coverage of the event will be broadcast.
1945 - Trafalgar Dinners on board HMS VICTORY, the Naval Museum and
Royal Navy ships and shoreside establishments around the country and
abroad.
2005 - 2015 ISL speech and HM the Queen toast to the Immortal Memory
broadcast live on TV and radio.
- 2300 News media coverage throughout the night.
London
1100 - Wreath-laying by First Sea Lord at Nelson's Tomb in the crypt
of St Paul's Cathedral. Attended by Sea Cadets and 35 invited guests.
On completion, members of the public will be allowed to lay wreaths.
Cadiz
1000 - Spanish led wreath laying and Commemoration Service at Spanish
Naval Mausoleum, San Fernando with Royal Navy and French Navy
representation.
1200 - Military Parade, marchpast and wreath laying in Central Cadiz
at Parque Genoves led by Spanish Military and presided by Spanish
Minister of Defence. HMA Spain, Admiral Stanhope will lay a wreath
and a small RN guard from HMS CHATHAM will take part in the Parade.
Related descendants of Spanish/French and UK sailors present to
witness events along with 18th Century costumed re-enactors.
1200 - 1300 Flotilla of private yachts, including UKSA's Gypsy Moth
IV and Oyster owners, lay wreaths off Cape Trafalgar.
1600-sunset Official mourning declared in Cadiz.
1700 SNS PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS, (aircraft carrier) SPS REINA SOFIA
(frigate escort), HMS CHATHAM (UK Type 22 frigate escort) and FS
MONTCALM (French frigate escort) sail for Cape Trafalgar.
1830 - Wreath laying off Cape Trafalgar.
2100 - Ships return alongside in Cadiz
SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER 2005
London - with the focus on Trafalgar Square
1100 - 1245 The Trafalgar Parade, Service and wreath laying - Sea
Cadets, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Navy Reserves accompanied
by Royal Marines Band.
1500 -1600 The Trafalgar Service in St Paul's Cathedral for 2400
invited guests.
1830-2000 'The Spirit of Nelson' - Trafalgar Square and Nelson's
Column are the inevitable focus point for the T200 Grand Finale - a
spectacular maritime show for up to 10,000 members of the public. A
theatrical, action packed performance with dramatic soundtrack
celebrating 200 years of British maritime endeavour featuring Sea
Cadets RN sailors and marines together with acrobatic 'free runners'
plus some memorable special effects.
For broader maritime events, many of them supported by the Royal
Navy, during 2005 visit www.seabritain2005.co.uk.
SeaBritain events can been found at www.seabritain2005.com.