Gloucestershire excitement at Queen's visit

By smunro citizen reporter citizen.news@glosmedia.co.uk

The announcement that Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting Gloucester and Cheltenham later this month has been met with excitement from readers.

Elizabeth II will visit Gloucester Docks, Gloucestershire College and neighbouring GCHQ in Cheltenham on October 23.

It has been six years since the Queen last visited Gloucester for the Maundy Thursday ceremony in 2003.

Visitors to www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk were looking forward to the visit.

John, from Gloucester, said: "This is one lady for whom I have nothing but the greatest respect. If even one of our Prime Ministers could have ended their professional careers half as good as Queen Elizabeth then we might not be in the mess we are today."

Steve, from Gloucester, said: "Good news. She has visited before at the Widden Street school. Let's hope every thing goes well."

Harriet Farmers, of Tewkesbury, said: "I am certainly looking forward to the day as an ex-resident of the palace (I worked there as a maid about 13 years ago). It will lovely to see her in the flesh again."

The Queen will be arriving in the docks after sailing up the canal in a patrol boat, and will be met by Lord Lieutenant for Gloucestershire Henry Elwes.

But a few readers feared some sites of Gloucester would fail to meet her approval.

An anonymous Gloucester poster, said: "How far up the canal I wonder? from Sainsbury's into the Docks while diverting the Queen's gaze from the mess that is along side the Quays? Or will they put her on the barge from the drawbridge into the Docks so she does not see much? Either way she will be disappointed as the Docks area is a derelict dump isn't it? Just like Gloucester itself."

Paul of Matson, said: "Please take her through the Cross streets so she can see just how many shops are empty or are just charity and cheap shops and then show her the eyesore which is King's Square."