yesterday without incident.

An airport protest of an expected 30 Independence demonstrators failed to materialise as Lord Waddington, Lady Waddington, and their 21-year-old daughter Victoria were greeted by a line of dignitaries led by Acting Governor Mr. John Kelly and Mrs. Kelly.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, Lady Swan, the Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood, Lady Astwood, and a host of MPs and their spouses were also on hand to welcome the Waddingtons who arrived shortly after 6.20 p.m. on the British Airways flight from London.

Dressed in a navy blue suit and pink shirt, Lord Waddington disembarked the plane first, followed by Lady Waddington, wearing a colourful flowered dress with a blue blazer.

And not too far behind was their pet terrier, Basil.

As they were whisked away to Government House they passed about a dozen people standing on the left side of Blue Hole Hill, holding a blue and gold banner which stated "The Committee for Independence of Bermuda, Pride, Unity, Nationhood''.

Lord Waddington waved and some dignitaries tooted their car horns at the group as they drove by, while some gave a thumbs-down signal to show their disapproval of the group's activity.

But The Committee for the Independence of Bermuda chairman Mr. Walton Brown Jr., who led the group, said he believed their "peaceful'' protest was a success.

"This was not an attempt to denigrate the Governor,'' Mr. Brown told The Royal Gazette . "This was an attempt to send a message to Bermudians that we can have a Bermudian governor without changing anything in the Constitution.'' He said Lord Waddington's arrival was a good opportunity to raise the question to Bermudians about who the governor should be.

Mr. Brown noted that while the demonstration was "unorthodox'' for Bermuda, it was "very peaceful and there was no obstruction''.

Lord Waddington will be sworn in at the Cabinet Building this morning following a 17-gun salute and inspection of a Guard of Honour of the Bermuda Regiment.

OFFICIAL GREETING -- Governor the Rt. Hon. Lord Waddington talks with Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and Lady Swan shortly after his arrival yesterday.

SILENT PROTEST -- Chairman of the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda Mr. Walton Brown Jr. holds the left side of a banner as supporters quietly protest against having the Governor's position filled by another non-Bermudian.