Spectacular Greenwich finale for Royal status events

Plans for a spectacular closing event in Maritime Greenwich have been unveiled to mark the end of a weekend of celebrations (3 to 5 February) as Greenwich becomes the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

A dramatic early evening waterfront firework display to music at the Old Royal Naval College will end a whole day of celebrations on Sunday 5 February, as visitors and the people of Greenwich mark the borough's new royal status.

It has been bestowed on the borough by HM The Queen as one of the first actions of the Diamond Jubilee year. Greenwich becomes only the fourth Royal Borough and the first new one for 85 years.

The fireworks will follow an amazing Grand Royal Parade through Greenwich, featuring lanterns, a mock golden carriage and around 1,000 people taking part.

Festivities

Ahead of the fireworks and parade there will be festivities and entertainment in and around Greenwich town centre throughout the day, with events taking place at some of the world heritage site's most famous locations – from the recently extended National Maritime Museum to the beautiful Old Royal Naval College on the banks of the River Thames.

There'll be workshops from the morning onwards, special tours of some of the royal locations, and from 2pm a stage at the Old Royal Naval College will host entertainment and music.

It's not only a chance to mark this pivotal moment in history, but also an opportunity to see some of our most famous and historic landmarks at their finest.

Some of the highlights are:

• the fireworks spectacular at nightfall. A fireworks display set to music will take place at 6pm in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, creating a stunning waterfront view, and the building will be lit with a 'gobo' featuring the new Royal Borough logo
• a Grand Royal Parade at 5:30pm with lanterns and golden carriages is expected to feature up to 1,000 people
• an outdoor stage from 2pm at the Old Royal Naval College, featuring various artists and local performers
• lantern-making workshops at the National Maritime Museum for people to make lanterns to take part in the Grand Royal Parade
• in addition, a general open day will be held at the National Maritime Museum, with various workshops taking place
  
• Greenwich town centre will be decorated with new Royal Borough banners throughout 
• a display at the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre at the Old Royal Naval College, including the Letters Patent and a Royal Borough display
• the chance for children to dress in royal costume and to take part in the parade and other activities
• roving royal-themed entertainment throughout Greenwich town centre.

Leader of Greenwich Council, Councillor Chris Roberts said:

"These celebrations are a great way to showcase all the current and future inward investment, tourist and job opportunities that Royal Greenwich has to offer.

"Tourism brings in £774 million to the local economy, welcomes over 18 million visitors, supports more than 8,000 jobs and has helped make Greenwich the only UK destination listed in Frommer's top ten global places to visit in 2012.

"Our new Royal Borough status will drive forward our record levels of regeneration and cement our role as a key international destination for businesses and visitors from across the globe."

"This event will be a spectacular not to be missed and will be a fitting finale to a superb weekend of celebration across the borough. We want to make sure that celebrating this unique moment in our borough's history is about local people being able to take part and the whole community coming together.

"We will be pulling out all the stops to make sure it's a fitting close to the weekend's celebrations. With some of the most beautiful settings in London as the backdrop for the day, it'll make a fantastic day out for everyone who comes."