All Hail the Queen

The town of Williamsburg has opened it arms wide to the British royalty which is due to grace Virginia this week. This is not the first visit Queen Elizabeth II has made to Williamsburg and Jamestown; the first visit was in 1957 three years after the Queen Mother, Elizabeth I had visited in 1954. Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrive in Richmond on 3 May 2007. There the Queen will address the assembly at the capital in Richmond, then journey on to Williamsburg where a carriage awaits them to tour through the historic Colonial Williamsburg.

On Friday morning, 4 May, the Queen and Prince Phillip are scheduled to tour Jamestown settlement and historic Jamestown Island. Jamestown Island is the actual landing site of the original colonist; Jamestown Settlement is a recreation of the island. During this tour the royal couple intend to present a gift to the people of Virginia. It is not known what the gift will be, however, the last gift from the Queen was a tortoise shell jewel case so large it takes two people to hold. The Jewel case, made in Jamaica around the 1660s, will be on display for the Queen to view along with other visitors to the DeWitt Wallace Arts Museum in Williamsburg.

In the afternoon on Friday the royal couple have different agendas. Prince Phillip will travel to Norfolk to luncheon there, as well as attend a reception on the USS Wisconsin. Queen Elizabeth will dine at the Governor's Palace, and then visit the College of William and Mary to ring the Wren bell and receive a class award. The couple's departure plans have not been announced.

Williamsburg residence have read about the Queen's visit for months in the local newspapers therefore this is not a surprise visit. It was first rumored that Prince Charles and possibly Prince William would attend the 400th celebration of Jamestown, however these plans did not come to fruition. In April a royal entourage arrived at the Williamsburg Inn to perform a fashion patrol. The royal seamstress was sizing up the place to make certain the Queen's attire did not clash with the décor. The team scrutinized the carpets, drapes and furnishings to be sure the Queen would look her best in her clothing. When asked about the team, it was stated that the Queen wanted her wardrobe to be friendly.

Not all residents of Williamsburg are thrilled with the royal arrival. Some residence are tired of hearing about the event. One local stated that it seemed a lot of fuss for one person, after all it's not our Queen and we left monarchy behind in this country. When speaking with a British citizen regarding the Queen's visit, it was said that they would not make an attempt to see the Queen. Though they found it wonderful for her to visit. Some area residents simply seem irritated by the event that will bring a plethora of visitors to the area. Hotels have sold out completely, and those residents fear for heavy traffic, no seating at favorite restaurants, or crowding at their churches. With that said, Williamsburg residents are not unfamiliar with visitors to the area. Williamsburg is a tourist area, and those tourist dollars to go to support the community in a variety of ways. 'Burg locals are friendly towards visitors and tend to have a more inviting attitude toward tourists, though seem to lean towards "much ado about nothing" with the Queen's arrival.

Other locals are quite excited for the Queen's visit. College students intend to gather to catch a view of the Queen when she arrives at the College of William and Mary. One resident of Newport News invited Queen Elizabeth II to tea at their home, to which they received a royal letter of "thanks but no thanks."