Hundreds of military personnel will march through Bristol this weekend in honour of the Royal Navy’s latest and largest warship being granted the Freedom of the City. A parade of nearly 300 sailors and Royal Marines will see the closure of many roads in Bristol city centre on Saturday, June 10, in celebration of a future 50-year link between Bristol and HMS Prince of Wales.
The honour of the Freedom of the City, when conferred on a military unit, grants that unit the privilege of marching into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed”. The City and County of Bristol has been affiliated with HMS Prince of Wales since 2016, an honour shared with Liverpool, a relationship that will last for 50 years.
Last month, Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Paul Goggin, said: “It was an honour for Bristol to grant the Ship’s Company the Freedom of the City. I am delighted to celebrate the close bond Bristol has with the HMS Prince of Wales, and people across the city look forward to strengthening our ties with them."
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To mark the occasion, a ceremony in Bristol city centre on Saturday, June 10 will commence with the Lord Mayor of Bristol presenting a Freedom Scroll at a unique ceremony on College Green. Then, led by His Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines from Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, 275 sailors will march through the city to exercise the freedom rights, before returning to College Green for a blessing in Bristol Cathedral.
The exact route and timings of the parade have not been published publicly, but Bristol Live will be bringing you the latest updates tomorrow as it begins. Bristol City Council has advised that the march will begin in the city centre from 2pm.
According to the council there will be a number of road closures in place as follows, with parking suspensions along Deanery Road (6am-7pm):
Closures in place between 6am and 6pm:
- College St – entire length
- Deanery Road from its junction with St George’s Rd to its closed end
Closures in place between 2pm and 3pm:
- Deanery Rd – From its junction with St George’s Rd to its junction with Jacob’s Wells Roundabout
- Jacob’s Wells Roundabout (eastern side) - from its junction with Jacob’s Wells Road to its junction with Anchor Rd
- Anchor Road – Entire length
- Canons Road – From its junction with Anchor Road to its junction with College Green
- Broad Quay – Entire length
- Baldwin Street – From its junction with Marsh St to its junction with St Augustine's Parade
- St Augustine’s Parade – Entire Length
- Colston Avenue – Entire length
- College Green – Entire Length
- Rupert St – From its junction with Colston Avenue to its junction with St John’s Bridge
- Lewins Mead – From its junction with Colston Avenue to its junction with St John’s Bridge
- Park Street – From its junction with College Green to its junction with Queens Road
Those planning on heading out on Saturday should prepare for a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in the afternoon (June 10). The Met Office has warned to expect "heavy rain and hail" between 2pm and 9pm.
Freedom of the City parade takes place on Saturday, June 10, 2023
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