Huge crowds lined the streets of St. George's to get a glimpse of, or possibly even meet, Princess Anne as she made a tour of the historic town yesterday morning.

Crash barriers placed in King's Square were put to good use as children and adults, residents and tourists gathered together to hear Town Crier E. Michael Jones announce the Royal motorcade's imminent arrival just before 10 a.m.

This, however, was not the first of Princess Anne's many scheduled events for the day.

Forty-five minutes earlier she planted a tree in the grounds of Government House in commemoration of her visit.

The sapling, a podocarpus macrophyllus or Japanese ewe tree, was intended to replace another tree that had been planted in 1953 to commemorate the Queen's coronation and had not survived.

In St. George's, a band from the Richard Allen A.M.E. Church played the National Anthem and, making the square look more like a parade ground, were members of both the Royal Artillery Association and the St. George's Volunteer Fire Brigade who stood to attention for the Royal entrance.

The Princess climbed out of the Governor's Daimler to a rapturous applause and proceeded to meet St. George's Mayor Lois Perinchief and the aldermen and common councilmen of the Corporation of St. George's.

One spectator with an excellent view of the action was resident June Dillas, who said: "She looks like a very nice lady.'' Warm welcome "And I'm glad she received a warm welcome from the crowd.'' Visitor Patricia Noura described the arrival as "breathtaking'' and "really emotional''.

Ms Noura, who travelled from Boston on the cruise ship Norwegian Majesty , added: "This is something we'd never see at home and we're really glad we were here to witness it.'' Her friend, Anne Marie Matuszak, said: "It's wonderful to see so many people here too, especially all the children.'' Ms Matuszak was referring especially to two groups of kids from St. George's Preparatory and Clearwater Middle Schools, who gave the Princess a rendition of "Bermuda Is Another World'' as she walked out to meet those standing to attention in the square.

Next, a memorial service was read by Pastor the Rev. Goodwin Smith and Her Royal Highness laid a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph.

The last post was played and a minute's silence was observed in remembrance of those who gave their lives in World Wars One and Two.

The Princess then went slowly around the perimeter of the square, making the effort to meet and chat to as many spectators as possible.

One person lucky enough to make her acquaintance was De-Verne Bean whose daughter Ranae was standing in the square with her Brownie unit.

Mrs. Bean, who got up early in the morning to help her daughter prepare for the event, said she was "shocked'' when Princess Anne came over to her.

She described the Princess as "very warm and friendly'' in her manner.

Next on the schedule was the official opening of the newly-revamped Smith's Garden off Barber's Alley and a visit to St. Peter's Church, to see the graves of former Governor Sir Richard Sharples and his A.D.C. Capt. Hugh Sayers, who were murdered in 1973 while strolling through the grounds of Government House.

Waiting outside were visitors from Scotland, Vera and Bill Ponton, who described the Princess' visit as "very nice for the Island''.

"I'm sure she'll get a lovely impression of Bermuda. She's very popular with the people and seems to understand them quite well,'' said Mrs. Ponton, who lives with her husband in Dunoon, Argyllshire.

Next the Princess strolled down the street to meet members of the St. George's Foundation and officially open the newly-repaved Featherbed Alley.

Foundation Campaign chairman Scott Hunter later said the whole visit "went great''.

"She seemed very interested in what the Foundation is trying to do,'' he said. "We were delighted.'' Filming the opening with his camcorder was St. George's resident Brendan Hollis.

When asked his reaction to the Princess' visit he said: "I think this is a great day and it's a great honour.'' Mr. Hollis added that he felt the event was "perfect for the Town of St.

George'' because of the feeling of history and tradition that it evoked.

Also watching the opening was Bloomingdale, New Jersey resident Helen Zita.

The visitor, who was on her first visit to the Island, said: "This is quite exciting. We didn't expect to see this at all and we're glad we got wind of it.'' Ms Zita added that seeing Princess Anne had made her trip even more worthwhile and that she would definitely be coming back to the Island sometime.

After cutting the ribbon at Featherbed Alley, Her Royal Highness was motored up to the Unfinished Church and, from there, on to Fort St. Catherine where she had a look at replicas of the Crown Jewels.

By 12.30 p.m. the Princess was back at King's Square.

There she boarded the 110-foot luxury yacht Lady Tamara and watched the Town Crier drench a "hapless wench'' in a demonstration of the ducking stool.

The boat cast off and Her Royal Highness lunched with the Mayor while cruising the waters off St. George's and St. David's Islands.

The afternoon's itinerary included tours of the Salvation Army's Emergency Housing Complex at Marsh Lane, Pembroke and their Drug Rehabilitation Unit at Harbour Light on King Street in Hamilton.

Also scheduled was a trip to the St. John Ambulance Brigade Headquarters and the receiving of Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon at Government House.

Ms Gordon described the Princess as "engaging and extremely personable'' and added "she is not unhibited in her Royal status so much that it stops her from being sociable''.

In the evening, Princess Anne attended a Bermuda Regiment Musical Display and the Trafalgar Night Dinner at the Commissioner's House in Dockyard.

Her visit is scheduled to end when she departs by private jet from the Civil Air Terminal around 9.30 a.m. today.

Photos by David Skinner Red Roses: Sisters eight-year-old Naomi and five-year-old Lydia Toavs present Princess Anne with two dozen red roses as she walks around King's Square, St.

George's meeting the people yesterday.

Walking the beat: Princess Anne meets members of the Royal Artillery Association who turned out to honour her during her visit to King's Square, St. George's yesterday.

ST. GEORGE'S PAR