Maidenhead & Windsor

Local arrangements are nearing completion for Windsor's first state visit to the town since 2001 on Wednesday March 26 when the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla will be welcomed by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

The event will include a spectacular procession through the streets of Windsor and, in preparation, the Royal Borough and Thames Valley Police are working together to ensure the event goes smoothly, to minimise disruption in the town centre and to provide as much information as possible to businesses and residents along the processional route.

Detailed information booklets* will be distributed over the next week, setting out the state visit schedule, both for the arrival day itself and for the rehearsal, which will take place in real time on Tuesday March 25.

Produced by the council and the police prior to every major ceremonial occasion involving a royal procession through the town, the booklets provide an extensive range of information, including the processional route map, road closure times and parking arrangements.

For those coming into the town centre to watch the procession there is information about pedestrian access points, the park and walk facility at The Brocas, Eton (courtesy of Eton College) and facilities for people who are disabled.

Lloyd White, who is co-ordinating Windsor and Maidenhead council arrangements for visit and rehearsal, said: "This is the sixth state visit to Windsor since 1998 and the council and police have built up a very effective working partnership over the years. Our aim is to manage these high profile occasions so that they can be enjoyed by everyone who wants to join in the colour and spectacle while ensuring that the town centre can function as normally as possible."

Supt Dan Hale, who is in charge of the police operations in the town, said: "It is important that we get detailed information to the public so that residents and businesses can plan ahead. There are obvious security arrangements which have to be strictly adhered to but, wherever possible, we want to ensure that Windsor life can carry on with the minimum of interruption."

The President and Mrs Sarkozy are scheduled to arrive in Windsor at 12 noon on Wednesday March 26. They will be greeted by the Queen and Prince Philip in a specially-constructed pavilion adjacent to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station. Also there to add a welcome on behalf of the Royal Borough will be the Mayor, Cllr Leo Walters.

Afterwards the royal party and their visitors will board horse-drawn carriages for the procession to Windsor Castle, accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry

The procession route will be: Datchet Road, Thames Street, High Street, Park Street, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate and Cambridge Drive for the drive up the Long Walk to Windsor Castle.

More than 90 flagpoles are being installed along the route and will be decorated with the Union and French banners. Banners of the Royal Borough will be displayed on the flagpoles outside the Guildhall, where robed councillors will gather to watch the procession. The entire route will be lined with representatives from the armed forces.

Road closures:
With the rehearsal taking place in real time the day prior to the state visit, road closures will be in force in the town from 9.45am to 3pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday March 25 and 26. However, the police and council staff will be working to ensure that the town is re-opened at the earliest possible opportunity.

Most Royal Borough car parks will be open as usual, with the exception of River Street, Home Park and part of King Edward VII (Datchet Road), which can be accessed from the Datchet direction only.

* Copies of the booklet will be delivered to residents and businesses along or adjacent to the procession route.

Further information is also available from the council's customer service centre on 01628 683868 or the Royal Windsor Visitor Information Centre on 01753 743900

For local police-related enquiries in connection with the state visit the following telephone number should be used for the days of the rehearsal and state visit only: 07813 072748.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead