VIRGINIA LAUNCHES ROYAL WALKABOUT LOTTERY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007
CONTACT
Tamra Talmadge-Anderson
Governor's Office
Phone: (804) 225-4947
VIRGINIA LAUNCHES ROYAL WALKABOUT LOTTERY
RICHMOND – Virginia today launched a lottery for 108 people to receive VIP spots along The Queen’s walkabout on Capitol Square. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Virginia’s State Capitol on May 3 as part of their trip to Virginia marking the 400th anniversary of Jamestown.
Fifty-four people will be chosen at random to receive special placements along The Queen’s walkabout from the Executive Mansion to the State Capitol. Each winner will be able to bring a guest, for a total of 108 Walkabout VIPs, in a nod to the 108 Jamestown colonists of 1607.
Royal Walkabout Lottery winners will join extraordinary citizens and groups from across the state who have been invited to line The Queen’s walkabout. Boy and Girl Scouts, firefighters, children hospital volunteers, principals and teachers of the year and others will be among those honored Virginians lining The Queen’s path to the Capitol.
Capitol Square lawn will be open to the public to view The Queen’s walkabout and take part in Virginia’s Royal Welcome, a day of live musical performances by Virginia artists to celebrate The Queen’s visit.
Virginia’s Royal Welcome is free and open to the public. It will celebrate the state’s diverse musical heritage with live performances of authentic bluegrass, gospel, jazz and blues. The music will be a mix of legendary performers and up and coming young artists. Tickets are not needed for the event. Capitol grounds will open at 11:00 a.m. with musical performances from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The public entrance and security screening point will be on Ninth Street. It is recommended that anyone hoping to see The Queen’s walkabout should arrive by 2:00 p.m. People may bring blankets, picnic lunches, cameras and binoculars to the event. Lawn chairs, alcoholic beverages, umbrellas and pets are prohibited.
Virginia is preparing to welcome The Queen with true southern hospitality and will benefit from the international attention that the Royal visit will bring to the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. The Queen’s visit to Virginia on May 3 and 4, followed by Anniversary Weekend, May 11-13 in Jamestown, are the highlights of an 18-month commemoration of America’s 400th Anniversary.
People must be 21 or older to enter the lottery. The lottery closes at 9:00 a.m. on April 30. To enter the Royal Walkabout Lottery and get more information on Virginia’s Royal Welcome, go to www.governor.virginia.gov/Queen or call 1.877.433.4362.
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Note to media: The Official Virginia’s Royal Welcome logo is available for news distribution purposes in the Press Room at www.governor.virginia.gov/Queen