Once it was one of the most important outposts of the Royal Navy and next week it will relive some of its former pomp and splendour when it hosts a visit by the Queen.

On Wednesday, the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh will tour Dockyard, seeing at first hand the mural at Commissioner's House painted to celebrate the Island's 400th anniversary.

Among the other highlights of the visit, the Duke of Edinburgh will also see The Spirit of Bermuda and the Royal party will be entertained by school children, Cub Scouts, Brownies and Sea Cadets.

A drumline from Sandys Middle School will supply the music as the Royal Party steps off the ferry from Hamilton for their much anticipated visit to the western most part of the Island.

Large crowds of school children, seniors and members of the public are expected to gather to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple as they land at the historic former naval base.

Upon their arrival, the Minister of Energy and Telecommunications, Michael Scott, will be there to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

It is at this point that the Royal Party will separate for a time. The Queen will proceed to the Clocktower Mall for a guided tour with Wedco Chairman, Walter Lister, while the Duke of Edinburgh and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband pay a visit to the Bermuda Sloop, The Spirit of Bermuda.

On The Spirit of Bermuda, Captain Simon Colley will be accompanied by about 13 students from the Bermuda Institute, girls who are sailing that week aboard the sloop as trainees.

Once inside the mall, Mr. Lister will introduce several MPs, Wedco board members and other dignitaries to the Queen before students from Sandys Middle School stage several culturally significant performances for her Majesty.

Also inside the Clocktower Mall, former Premier Dr. David Saul will give a cedar carving demonstration and before departing at 12.25 p.m. the Queen will unveil a plaque by Mr. Lister.

The next stop on the tour of Dockyard is the Maritime Museum where the Royal couple will join Dr. Edward Harris and invited guests for lunch.

On arrival at the Museum, the Queen and Prince Philip will be greeted by an Honour Guard of the Bermuda Sea Cadets.

Nearly 35 years ago the Queen officially opened the Maritime Museum on her visit to the Island in 1975. And at the end of this visit Her Majesty will inaugurate a mural in the Commissioner's House by Bermudian artist Graham Foster which depicts Bermuda's 400 years of history.

Mr. Foster said that he was honoured to have his work unveiled by the Queen.

"Originally I'd scheduled the mural to be finished at the end of 2007, so actually finishing during Bermuda's 400th year celebrations has worked out really well," said Mr. Foster.

"It's a huge honour to have the mural officially opened by Her Majesty and something I could never have foreseen back in 2005 when I started. It's been a great year and this opening is an amazing finale, truly the icing on the cake."

At the end of the day the Royal party will proceed via car to Government House before attending a dinner at Tucker's Point hosted by Premier Ewart Brown and wife Wanda Henton Brown.

The Royal party will be on the Island from November 24 to 26. During their visit they will attend events in St. George's, Dockyard and Hamilton. This will be Queen Elizabeth's sixth visit to Bermuda since her Commonwealth Coronation tour in 1953.

Governor, Sir Richard Gozney said: "The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have a full schedule, and events from St. George's to Dockyard. This is a historic event. We have worked to ensure the public is given opportunities to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh while they are here."

Queen' visit schedule

This is the full schedule for the visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh from Tuesday, November 24 to Thursday, November 26.

Tuesday, November 24

3 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at L.F. Wade International Airport. They will be met by the Governor Sir Richard Gozney and his wife, Lady Gozney and Premier Ewart Brown and his wife, Wanda Henton Brown.

3.15 p.m. The Royal Party arrives in King's Square, St. George's, where she will visit the Town Hall visit. The Queen will receive the Royal Salute, inspect the Bermuda Regiment Guard of Honour; meet dignitaries including the Chief Justice, President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Cabinet Ministers and MPs and the Mayor and Corporation of St George's.

3.30 p.m. During a walk to Ordnance Island, The Queen will greet members of the viewing public, including Cub Scouts, Brownies, Guides, Sea Cadets and school children, plus some of the 1609 re-enactment group in costume.

* In case of rain, events will take place in the World Heritage Centre

4.20 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Government House and later The Queen will host a reception for invited guests.

Wednesday, November 25

City of Hamilton activities:

10 a.m. The Duke of Edinburgh presents Duke of Edinburgh Awards with invited guests only.

10.20 a.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh depart from the Cabinet Office by landau en route to the Cathedral.

10.30 a.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at the Cathedral, met by the Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Patrick White and Mrs. White.

10.40 a.m. Thanksgiving Service celebrating Bermuda's 400th Anniversary.

11.10 a.m. Conclusion of Thanksgiving Service and recessional.

11.20 a.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Hamilton Ferry Terminal and are seen off by Mayor of Hamilton, Charles Gosling.

11.40 a.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive in Dockyard met by Michael Scott, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-commerce.

11.45 a.m. The Duke of Edinburgh visits The Spirit of Bermuda and then rejoins The Queen for a Clocktower tour.

11.45 a.m. The Queen arrives at the Clocktower building where she will be met by Walter Lister, Chairman of the West End Development Corporation.

11.50 a.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will enter Great Eastern Warehouse for a historical re-enactment by Sandys Middle School, to meet former Naval Dockyard Apprentices of 1950, and cedar-carver and former Premier David Saul. In the Great Western Warehouse they will also see the enactment of a typical Bermuda wedding reception.

12.05 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travel to the Maritime Museum viewing a special drum line presentation and greeting the public along the way.

12.15 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Maritime Museum for special luncheon for invited guests only.

2.20 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are escorted to the Mural room by Executive Director Dr. Harris for the unveiling of a plaque at the official opening of mural depicting Bermuda's 400 years.

2.25 p.m. Royal Motorcade leaves Dockyard for Government House travelling along Middle Road. The convoy will pass or pass close by the following schools: Somerset Primary, West End Primary, Dalton E. Tucker Primary, Port Royal Primary, Heron Bay Primary, Bermuda Institute, T.N. Tatem Middle School, Warwick Academy, Gilbert Institute and Paget Primary. The Royal Motorcade will travel via Trimingham Hill round-a-bout where Johnny Barnes greets morning commuters.

The Motorcade will then travel along Front Street up Queen Street and will pass close or close by the Bermuda High School, Mount Saint Agnes, Saltus Junior School and finally the Berkeley Institute and Northlands Primary.

8 p.m. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at the Tucker's Point Club for the Bermuda Government's dinner. They will be met by the Premier and Mrs. Wanda Henton Brown. The evening also includes a gift presentation to The Queen by Dr. Brown, a welcome speech by the Premier with the loyal toast and The Queen's reply with a toast to Bermuda for invited guests only.

Thursday, November 26

10.45 p.m. The Royal Motorcade departs Government House for L.F. Wade International Airport. The Royal Motorcade will pass by the following schools: Saltus Grammar School, Victor Scott Primary, Prospect Primary, CedarBridge Academy, Saltus Cavendish, Somersfield Academy, Elliot Primary, Whitney Institute and Francis Patton Primary.

11.15 a.m. Arrive at L.F. Wade international Airport. Farewell ceremony for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. Seen off by the Governor and Lady Gozney, the Premier and Mrs. Henton Brown.