Britain's Queen Elizabeth preps for Trafalgar celebrations

Oct 21, 2005, 16:06 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will kick off celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar this weekend.

More than 6,000 events are planned throughout the UK to celebrate Nelson's historic naval victory at Trafalgar.

The celebrations will begin with the traditional hoisting of Nelson's "England expects" signal on board his flagship HMS Victory.

This will be followed by the First Sea Lord, Sir Alan West, attending a wreath-laying ceremony at Nelson's tomb in St Paul's Cathedral, London. Wreaths will also be laid by the Second Sea Lord Sir James Burnell-Nugent on the spot where the navy's greatest hero was shot aboard HMS Victory and also where he died.

The queen will also light a beacon beside the Victory, the first of 1,000 beacons being set ablaze.

Other members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales, will light beacons around the UK.

The queen will then dine in the great cabin of Victory, in the company of senior naval representatives.

Sir Alan said the occasion had taken on the shape of "Nelson fever" as final preparations for the weekend of festivities got under way.

Sir Alan said: "I was amazed how it has gripped the spirit of Britain across the country. It's almost a Nelson-fever going on."

On Sunday (23.10.05), Nelson's most famous victory and the battle that claimed his life will be marked with a remembrance service at St Paul's Cathedral in London, where he is buried.

The celebrations will culminate in London's Trafalgar Square in the evening when more than 10,000 people will gather under Nelson's column.

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