The visit, which is the Queen's first in more than 10 years, is believed to be scheduled for March.

Both Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly and a Buckingham Palace press officer yesterday refused to release details about the visit, pending an announcement by Palace officials today.

But the visit is believed to be in honour of Hamilton's bicentennial anniversary -- celebrated this year -- and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's 150th anniversary next year.

The Queen's last major visit to Bermuda was in 1975.

A year later she was here briefly to join the Royal yacht on the way to US bicentennial celebrations.

And in February, 1983, the Queen and Prince Philip made an 80-minute refuelling stopover at the Civil Air Terminal on their way to the Caribbean and the west coast of the US.

THE QUEEN -- expects to visit next March.