Gibraltar to warmly welcome Princess Anne on an Official Visit

Gibraltarians will rejoice this afternoon, when they warmly welcome the Princess Royal on her arrival to Gibraltar on an official visit.


This will be the first Royal visit to Gibraltar since the Princess herself was last here (seen here receiving the Royal Salute on her arrival), when she helped Gibraltar celebrate 300 years of 'Britishness' during the Tricentennial celebrations in 2004.

Princess Anne is due to land in Gibraltar this afternoon on board a Royal Air Force Bae146 jet operated by 32 (The Royal) Squadron.

Princess Anne is visiting the Rock of Gibraltar to open a new medical centre that has been named after her.

The new Princess Royal Medical Centre, will replace the much loved RNH, the old Royal Naval Hospital, which was closed last year.

The RNH (left) originally opened as an Army hospital in 1904 and amongst its distinguished visitors were Queen Alexandra (in 1905) and King George V (in 1912). Known locally as the ‘Wedgwood Castle' because of its pale blue walls, the Hospital was transferred to Royal Navy control in 1963. Since 1993, it provided a ten bed general ward and a five bed maternity unit.

The RNH has now been replaced by the new multi-million pound, purpose-built medical facility, the Princess Royal Medical Centre, which Princess Anne will officially open tomorrow.

Situated on a single site at Devil's Tower Camp, the new Princess Royal Medical Centre, which was opened in late November last year, is a one-stop healthcare shop offering a wide range of primary care services, such as physiotherapy, pharmacy, occupational health, a school nurse and mental health support. The same site also offers such secondary care facilities as radiography, general surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics, as well as an Accident and Emergency unit. A dental centre is also included in the building.

On her arrival this afternoon, the Princess Royal will be accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, who, as chief executive of Defence Estates at the Ministry of Defence, is no stranger to Gibraltar.

A demanding schedule of official engagements and civic events at various sites around Gibraltar are planned during her 3 day visit, including a walkabout along Main Street during which she is expected to be accompanied by Chief Minister Peter Caruana.

There will be a reception at the King's Bastion Leisure Centre followed by an official dinner this evening. Tomorrow there is the long-awaited official opening of the military medical centre under her name and among other events before leaving on Friday, her schedule will include a visit to the Waterport Terraces housing project and St Martin's Special School.

The Princess has also set aside some time for a private visit to the Upper Rock before her departure on Friday afternoon.

Planners have been concerned with the possibility of having to refine some of the items on the agenda due to the poor weather that has been affecting the area in recent days. Last weekend, a planned unveiling of a memorial, commemorating the Royal Marines long history and association with Gibraltar, had to be delayed for 24 hours, due to torrential rain on Saturday.

The Gibraltar Chronicle reported one official saying:

"We’re taking a flexible approach and nothing will be confirmed until the time comes. But in any event, the forecast is for an improvement in the weather."

Forecasters predict the possibility of light rain today but mostly sunny weather as from tomorrow.

The Royal visit has stirred a diplomatic row. Last month the Times Online reported that Spain had complained officially to Britain over the forthcoming visit of Princess Anne to Gibraltar, labelling it as 'inopportune'.

When the Spanish were advised of the visit on 16 January, Angel Lossada of the Spanish Foreign Ministry telephoned the British ambassador in Madrid, Denise Holt, to express Spain's annoyance. The visit was 'inopportune' he told her, and injures the 'sensibilities' of the Spanish people.

A Spanish MP noted at the time that the visit of a member of the British Royal Family to Gibraltar shows their total support for the sovereignty of the Rock.

Both the Gibraltar Government and Opposition welcome the visit to Gibraltar of members of the Royal Family.

The Opposition said last week that the visit of Princess Anne was 'none of Spain's business' and I totally agreed!

A very warm welcome to Princess Anne... to British Gibraltar!

Update: View photos of Princess Anne's arrival in Gibraltar here.

Heineken... for wardrobe lovers

Have you seen the new Heineken commercial? I just came across it... very funny!



I'm no lager man... more a real ale type... but that video really makes one feel like having one of those... right?

Royal Marines Excercise their Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in Weekend of Commemorative Events

Last Saturday, in torrential rain, the Royal Marines exercised their 'Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in a weekend of events commemorating their long history and association with the Rock.


On the 24th of July 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession with France and Spain, a combined fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir George Rooke, assisted by Field Marshal Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt, captured the Rock of Gibraltar. English ships bombarded the city while a force, comprising of 1,900 English and 400 Dutch marines, in an amphibious assault, stormed the defences, captured the Town and prevented Spanish reinforcements reaching the fortress.

Later, in the months following the capture of the Town, the English force of marines withheld a prolonged siege from October 1704 to April 1705, thereby achieving 'immortal glory' according to commentators at the time.

(Note: The Acts of Union, which joined the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single United Kingdom of Great Britain... making the English marines and Gibraltar British, was not until 3 years later in 1707)

'Gibraltar' became the only one of many battle honours that the Royal Marines include in their 'Globe and Laurel' insignia (left) when, in 1827, George IV, faced with having to choose battle honours from an extensive list, decided that Royal Marines’ 'Colours' would in future bear the symbol of the ‘Great Globe itself’ and that thereafter the only battle honour on Royal Marines’ Colours would be that of Gibraltar. So he ordered them to wear it with pride... and they do!

In 1996, the Corps was granted the 'Freedom of the City of Gibraltar'. On Saturday 28 February, 78 Marines from Taunton-based Alpha Company of 40 Commando accompanied by the Band of Royal Marines Scotland returned to the scene of their most famous and historic battles and conducted a ceremonial parade exercising their right, marching through the streets with 'fixed bayonets', the only time that a service force can do so in peacetime.

A large contingent of veterans, members of the Royal Marines Association, many of whom had travelled to Gibraltar from far and wide, also participated, marching proudly with the younger marines in the parade.

The parade, under the command of Major Sean Brady, the Commanding Officer of Alpha Company, assembled at Casemates Square, then marched off along Main Street.

Despite the torrential rain the Marines were applauded along the way by hundreds of proud locals and many visitors, who lined the route.

As they marched past the Piazza, the Marines saluted a gathered throng of dignitaries outside the the Assembly House (Gibraltar's Parliament), including Mayor Mommy Levy who was surrounded by Royal Marines 'Top Brass' including the Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Garry Robison, Brigadier Noble, the Deputy Commandant General of the Royal Marines and Lieutenant Colonel Paul James, the Commanding Officer of 40 Commando.

Here's a video of the Royal Marines and Band marching through Main Street:



To finish the day off in style, a public reception was then held on their behalf by the Governor, Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton KBE, himself a Royal Marine.

Royal Marines Memorial Unveiled

In 2006 the Gibraltar Heritage Trust suggested that a monument be erected to mark the long historical association between the Royal Marine Corps and the Rock of Gibraltar.

On Sunday, in a ceremony at Europort, Chief Minister Peter Caruana (seen here in the middle) unveiled the monument which commemorates the Royal Marines history and long association with Gibraltar. It is sited near the point where the Marines first came ashore in 1704. Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Garry Robison, dedicated the monument. More on this story here.

This ceremony had to be hastily-rescheduled as it was originally planned for Saturday. Unfortunately, the torrential rain on Saturday made it impossible for the ceremony to go ahead as planned and so was able to be postponed to Sunday lunchtime.

You can read more on the Unveiling of the Royal Marines Memorial here.

Royal Marines Band Concert at St Michael's Cave

The weekend’s events of celebration for the Royal Marines culminated on Sunday evening with a concert given by the Band of Royal Marines Scotland at St Michael’s Cave.

St Michael’s Cave was packed and the audience were able to enjoy an evening of inspirational music from a Band that only a few days ago was playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The concert ended with a standing ovation for both the musicians and the conductor, Principal Director of Music, Lt Col Chris Davis.

The concert was marked by another significant moment. This was Lt Col Davis' very last appearance as conductor, in a military music career that began when he joined the Royal Marines as a musician in 1975.

Brigadier Noble, the Deputy Commandant General of the Royal Marines thanked Lt Col Davis for his immense contribution to Marines' music. The retiring conductor was clearly moved by the significance of the occasion.

In addition to thanking the conductor, Brigadier Noble also asked the audience to reflect on the fact that many Marines are currently serving in Helmand Province, in Afghanistan.

Related Posts

You can see more posts on these events by clicking on the links in 'Related Links' box on the right margin.

Images Credit

I am indebted to HQBF for many of the images of the events shown here which are courtesy of Lt Col (Ret'd) Stuart Green, Media Ops Officer and Cpl Ralph Merry, Command Photographer, Media Operations - HQ British Forces Gibraltar.



Search for more Royal Marines Bands Music.

In my Inbox today... Condom the new symbol for Government

Errr... I will quickly add... this joke was created by a female... and then sent to me! Excellent... you just gotta larf eh... better than crying!