Speaking of the creation of the new museum, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown said: “With a 99-year lease granted to the Museum by the West End Development Corporation, this is another example of how public / private partnerships can benefit Bermuda. Cabinet considers our 400th anniversary year an appropriate time to establish the National Museum of Bermuda.”

Mr. Robert Steinhoff, Chairman of the BMM said, “I am extremely proud of the creation of the new museum and I look forward to continuing our leadership in the preservation of our national treasures and serving Bermudians and visitors, alike.”

Dr. Edward Harris, Executive Director of the BMM, said, “The physical expansion of the Maritime Museum underscores its stature as a national institution. The Museum was established in the 10-acre Keep in 1974 and has successfully restored the great Commissioner’s House and other historic buildings of the Keep since then. I am delighted that Cabinet has acknowledged the evolution of the Maritime Museum into a National Museum.”

In addition to restoring Casemates and its associated buildings and forts, the Museum will expand its range of exhibits, and the nature of its research, publications and other programmes in order to help make Bermuda’s history and heritage accessible to the public.

In recognition of its national status, the Museum will admit local residents free of charge in December and January every year. Children will be admitted free of charge all year-round.

The Queen will make official visits to the historic town of St George as well as the Royal Naval Dockyard. A Church Service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton will see some lucky residents who submitted their names as part of a lottery, join a host of dignitaries at the historical service. Her Majesty will also attend an official dinner given by the Premier and Government of Bermuda.

The route of the Royal motorcade as it travels around the Island has been designed so that members of the public, school children and various youth groups will be able to meet or catch a glimpse of the Royal Party.

Government House said today that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Miliband when their flight arrives in Bermuda on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 November, 2009. Her Majesty will be met by the Governor and Lady Gozney and the Governor will then present the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown to the Queen.

The Royal motorcade will leave the airport and arrive in St George at 3.20 pm. Her Majesty will be met by the Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, Lt. Col. Gonsalves and Mrs. Gonsalves. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will receive a Royal Salute from a Guard of Honour of the Bermuda Regiment. The Chief Justice, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and local Members of Parliament and their spouses will head the list of dignitaries on hand to meet Her Majesty and His Royal Highness.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will proceed to the Town Hall where they will be introduced to the Mayor of St. George’s Mariea Caisey; St George’s Alderman, Kenneth Bascome; Vicar of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rev David Raths; Town Crier, David Frith and Chairman of the St George’s Foundation, Kenneth Snaith.

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Girl Guides and Brownie troupes, school children from east end schools and seniors together with some of those who re-enacted the Sea Venture landing in 1609, will join members of the public that are expected to gather along the sidewalks from King’s Square to Ordnance Island to see the Royal couple.

In the event of inclement weather, the Royal Party will visit the World Heritage Centre, via King’s Square, and will meet the various dignitaries inside the Centre. Opportunities to meet school children and other groups will be available as can be accommodated. The Royal motorcade will then travel to Government House, departing St George via Water Street. The Queen will hold a reception for invited guests at Government House.

On Wednesday, November 25 2009, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh will present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Bermuda’s Gold winners and a few others at Government House. The Royal party will then travel to the Anglican Cathedral for a 10.30 am service celebrating Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary. The service will be attended by leaders of Christian denominations and other faiths. The arrival of the Royal Party and the church service will be covered by live television on ZBM and on CITV – the Government television station. In addition, monitors will be erected outside the church for the viewing convenience of the general public gathered outside the Cathedral.

Following the church service, the Royal party will head to Albouy’s Point at approximately 11.20 am where they will board a ferry to Dockyard. On their 11.40 am arrival in Dockyard, they will be met by Minister of Energy and Telecommunications, the Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP; seniors, children from west end schools and members of the public. Here, the Royal Party will separate briefly, with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Foreign Secretary David Miliband paying a visit to the sloop, the Spirit of Bermuda and Her Majesty being met by the Hon. Walter Lister, JP, for a tour of the Clocktower building.

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At the Spirit of Bermuda, Captain Simon Colley will be with about thirteen 16-year-old girls from Bermuda Institute who will be sailing that week as sail trainees. Mr. Walter Lister who serves as Chair of the West End Development Corporation will introduce members of his board; area MPs the Hon. Terry Lister, JP, MP, and Hon. Dennis Lister, JP, MP as well as the Deputy Chairman of St. John Ambulance.

Inside the Clocktower building, Her Majesty will watch Sandy’s Middle School children perform a short selection on Dockyard history before meeting some of the apprentices who were training when the Royal Navy facility closed in 1950/51 and who finished their training in Portsmouth. She will also see costumes depicting a traditional Bermuda wedding and a cedar carving demonstration will be conducted by Dr David Saul. Before departing the Clocktower building at 12.25 pm, Her Majesty will unveil a plaque by Mr Lister.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will then be driven to the Maritime Museum for lunch with Dr. Edward Harris and invited guests. An Honour Guard by the Bermuda Sea Cadets will greet their arrival. At the conclusion of the Maritime Museum visit, Her Majesty will inaugurate the mural of Bermuda’s history by local artist Mr Graham Foster. The Royal Party will proceed back to Government House via car.

Also on Wednesday November 25 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband will meet Dr Tony Knapp when he visits the Bermuda Institute of Oceanic Sciences.

On Wednesday evening, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will attend a formal dinner at Tucker’s Point, hosted by the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown.

In keeping with tradition that saw Her Majesty plant trees on Government House grounds during Bermuda visits in 1953, 1975 and 1994, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will plant two Royal Palm trees at Government House grounds before they depart Bermuda, 11.30 am Thursday November 26 2009.

‘Quincy Jones and Friends’ will be staged over three days from October 29 to 31 2009 at the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Royal Naval Dockyard. On the final night there will be a special performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, 25 years after the best-selling album of all-time was first produced by Quincy Jones.

During this historic weekend of performances, Bermuda’s Premier Ewart Brown will honour Quincy Jones’ lifetime contributions to culture and humanity with the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Award. Jones changed the way music and philanthropy interacts through his star-studded collaboration We Are the World, the best-selling single of all time. Produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, this single raised $63 million for Ethiopian Famine Relief and shined a much-needed spotlight on the Ethiopian drought.

He continues his worldwide philanthropic efforts through music, in collaboration with institutions such as Harvard University, entertainers including Bono and Oprah Winfrey, and through his personal foundation, The Quincy Jones Foundation.

Quincy Jones said, ‘It is my distinct honour to receive the African Diaspora Award from Premier Brown and the people of Bermuda and to join with them to celebrate the beauty and wonder of Bermuda during the 14th Annual Bermuda Music Festival. The line-up of artists that we have assembled for this year’s festival are some of the most talented performers of their generation and, like me, understand and respect the diverse musical and spiritual influences that are reflected in Bermuda’s rich cultural history. I promise that this year’s festival will be one that you definitely will not want to miss. It’s going to be hot.’

The Bermuda Music Festival, sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, broke all attendance records last year when Beyoncé and Alicia Keys performed on the island.

This October, the Festival will take its musical presentation to another level by showcasing the many talents of living legend Quincy Jones, a 27-time Grammy Award winner, with a record 79 Grammy nominations. The prolific Jones will conduct, arrange and perform with artists who share his passions, many of whom he has mentored or guided at different points in their careers.

The line-up, like Quincy’s own career, mixes a broad variety of talent, range and style. The elite group of musicians share both musical roots and, in some cases personal ties, with the man who has collaborated with talents as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Will Smith and Ella Fitzgerald. The 2009 Bermuda Music Festival artists, with over 45 Grammys between them, are:

• Patti Austin – A beloved singer and member of Quincy’s extended family, Patti has worked with Quincy since she was 4 years old.
• Erykah Badu – Acclaimed, multiple Grammy Award winner.
• James Ingram – Versatile soul musician and acclaimed vocalist.
• Wyclef Jean – A multi-platinum Haitian-American musician, actor, producer and social entrepreneur.
• John Legend – Six-time Grammy award winner, recording artist, musician and actor.
• Michael McDonald – Michael is known around the world as a founding member of both the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.
• Kenny Rogers – One of the first four artists to appear in We Are the World, the best-selling single of all time, produced by Quincy Jones.
• Naturally Seven – An innovative R&B music group with a distinctive cappella style.

The artists will perform with an international orchestra, assembled by Quincy and comprised of some of the music world’s most respected talents.

Tickets for the Music Festival are on sale now, and are available are available from BermudaTix ticketing centres (iStore, Reid Street, Hamilton & Fabulous Fashions, Heron Bay Plaza).

The 3-night event will be held October 29-31 and will feature Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Quincy Jones and R&B singer Ne-Yo.

The venue this year is the Keep Yard at the Bermuda Maritime Museum at Royal Naval Dockyard in Sandys Parish.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow and are priced at $85 to $160 for individual shows. They are available from BermudaTix ticketing centres (iStore, Reid Street, Hamilton & Fabulous Fashions, Heron Bay Plaza) or by telephoning 232 2255 (in the US and Canada phone 1-800-309-8497).