Hundreds of tourists and Islanders yesterday packed historic King’s Square in St George for the annual Peppercorn ceremony.

And Bermuda put its best foot forward with the Bermuda Regiment Band and Corps of Drums and Guard of Honour adding a dash of military colour to the event.

John Widmer and wife Heather, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who travelled on a special ferry from Dockyard, where they are guests aboard the Celebrity Eclipse, said: “It was really cool.

“We didn’t even realise until we got here that the ship would be here on St George’s Day.

“We don’t have a lot of this pageantry back in the States, so it’s really neat to be able to experience that here.”

And even a heavy shower at the start of the ceremony didn’t dampen spirits.

Ms Widmer said: “I was impressed, despite the weather — but it didn’t last long.”

She added: “I loved seeing the fashions and the hats — it’s nice to see the culture of Bermuda. It’s a very pleasant surprise and the background to the ceremony was fascinating.”

Laura Dobrindt, of Guelph, Ontario, who is staying at the Grotto Bay resort with husband Brian, said: “Only the British can do pomp and circumstance this way.

“There is no comparison — we really enjoyed it despite the rain shower. It was certainly worth coming down this way to see. It’s not often you come across things like this by accident.”

Mary and Mike Smith, of Phoenix, Arizona, were on the Silver Spirit, which is docked in Bermuda’s original capital.

Ms Smith said: “It was wonderful — we do a lot of cruises and it’s always more enjoyable to see the people who live where we are and this was a great opportunity to share a historic tradition.

“We were very impressed — we’ve been to the Bahamas, but Bermuda is so much better.”

And she added that, as a time share owner, the couple were looking at trading time for a vacation at the St George’s Club.

Scotsman David Dick, who lives in the Republic of Ireland, with wife Margaret, was on his first trip back to the Island since he worked as a chef at the old Inverurie Hotel nearly 30 years ago.

Ms Dick said: “It’s amazing — it’s like taking a step back in time. It’s almost like a re-enactment. It’s amazing to see all the women are dressed up with all the hats on.

Bermuda Regimental Police Pte Malachi Johnston said after the ceremony: “It went really well. This is an important part of what we do and it was good to see so many people here and from a lot of different countries.

“It’s nice for them to see what we do and to be told we’ve done a good job.”

The traditional ceremony, now almost 200 years old, commemorates the handing over of St George’s State House, the former seat of Government and law before Hamilton became the capital, was granted in trust to what became the Corporation of St George’s for Lodge St George No. 266 — for the annual rent of one peppercorn.

Governor George Fergusson accepted the token rent from Lodge Master David Atwood, who marched his lodge in full regalia from the State House to the square, before the Governor exercised his right to hold the Governor’s Council in the building, the oldest stone-built structure in St George’s.