The Duchess of Gloucester enjoyed a whirlwind tour of the Island yesterday – meeting football legend Clyde Best, young footballers and Warwick camp.

And today she will present the Bermuda Regiment with its colours at the National Stadium — the first time the ceremony has been held in 25 years. Yesterday she started her tour of the Island with a tree planting ceremony at Government House before driving to the Bermuda Football Association's field at Prospect, in Devonshire.

Football legend Clyde Best waited for her in front of the site of the BFA's planned headquarters — which has been named the Clyde Best Centre for Excellence in recognition of his international stature. The former West Ham striker said: "It's a great honour and a great privilege to be here. After the things I've done over the years, I can tell you it's nice to be appreciated like this."

He said he was proud to speak on behalf of Bermudian football. "The Duchess is now the second member of the Royal Family I've met, actually. I was awarded the MBE by Prince Charles."

A partial mobilisation of the Bermuda Regiment in attendance included the Regiment Band, which marched over from National Stadium playing 'In Storm and Sunshine' — appropriately enough for a day with brief rain showers alternating with bright sun.

Minister without Portfolio Michael Weeks, standing in for Minister of Youth, Families and Community Development Glenn Blakeney, joked: "I'm glad this rain has eased up. I don't think the Duchess will have brought football boots."

BFA President Larry Mussenden said: "We're honoured that the Duchess of Gloucester has chosen to visit our BFA programme and will watch the members of our national academy training here today."

About 30 young footballers, ranging in age from 12 to 17, divided into groups with coaches Gary Darrell, Maurice Lowe and Scott Morton, and BFA youth director DeVar Boyles, to demonstrate their moves.

Teara Thomas, 15, said: "It's very exciting for me to be here, doing something I love. Obviously, I've never met someone from the Royal Family."

Fourteen-year-old Jasmine Simmons said she hoped to let the Duchess see how far girls' football had come in Bermuda, saying: "We're going to show what we've learned over the years and how football in Bermuda is taking off."

Keunna Dill, 15, said she was happy to have been selected and hoped the Duchess would talk to them. A moment later, she got her wish.

Arriving at 11 a.m. with Governor Sir Richard Gozney, the Duchess wore a navy blue dress and jacket with a memorial poppy pinned to her lapel.

Her Royal Highness spoke first with the girls' team and posed for a photo in the goal with them.

The Duchess chatted with coaches and players, accompanied by Mr. Weeks, Director of Sports Norbert Simons, BFA general secretary David Sabir, player development committee chairman Mark Wade, and Tammy Richardson from BFA sponsors Appleby.

Footballers Jahkeen Hunt, 13, and Q'S hun Darrell, 14, were in the next team down the field.

A defender with the Devonshire Cougars, Q'S hun said he'd been playing since the age of five.

"It's great to have the opportunity to be here to show what we can do." Echoing the sentiment, Jahkeen said: "We're going to do a passing drill out there to show our skills."

Next stop was the Bermuda Regiment headquarters at Warwick Camp.

"I am honoured to meet our Colonel-in-Chief," said Regimental Sgt. Major Gavin Lee, who added that the Duchess was effectively the highest-ranking person in the Camp. He said he had enjoyed the privilege of giving Her Royal Highness a welcome to Bermuda.

Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Brian Gonsalves accompanied the Duchess on her tour, beginning just before noon, which ranged from the armoury to the band office, the quartermasters, the training wing and the Officer's Mess for lunch.

At the armoury, Sgt. Major Chauncey Durham noted that the Duchess took keen interest in the weaponry.

"She spent quite a bit of time inspecting them. She was interested in their condition and asked us a lot of questions about how they were maintained, how old they were — the whole nine yards."

The Duchess then planted a Bermuda cedar on the lawns outside the Officer's Mess.

At 2 p.m., Her Royal Highness arrived with the Governor at Dunrossil House, the St. John Ambulance Brigade headquarters in Paget for a demonstration of medical techniques and a tour of three ambulances with medical responders.

Executive Director Jacqueline Browne said the visit was a fabulous honour for the organisation.

"We've all been thrilled that Her Royal Highness has been able to come and visit us. Royalty have always been involved with us as an Order of Chivalry, but this is a tremendous honour indeed."

Once again, the Royal arrival narrowly missed a downpour. Commissioner Steven Gunn and Deputy Commissioner Michael Murdoch-Smith escorted the group inside for a demonstration of medical techniques such as CPR, bandaging and backboarding.

Chairman Anthony Goodfellow then introduced the Duchess to board members Shirley Outerbridge, Colin Curtis, Col. Patrick Outerbridge and Col. Eugene Raynor.

As a Sister of the Order of St. John, Mrs. Outerbridge said she felt naturally comfortable in the presence of Royals: "It reminds me that we're all family. And this visit is beautiful, I think, because it helps everyone to appreciate what we do here."

Six medics were on hand with three of the ambulances for which the Brigade is known, which Her Royal Highness inspected.

Third year volunteer Miguel Estrella said the Duchess had commented it must have been a busy week for medics with so much rugby going on.

"I found her very gentle, very down-to-earth, a great pleasure to meet," he said.

A Bermuda flag covered a commemorative plaque on the front of the building, which the Duchess unveiled to applause.

A formal reception was given for the Duchess at Commissioner's House in Dockyard last night, with the Royal visitor heading back out at 8 p.m.

Later this morning, the Royal visit culminates with the Duchess presenting the Bermuda Regiment with its Colours, in a ceremony at National Stadium. More than 140 officers, men and women of the Regiment will be present.

It will be the first presentation of Regimental Colours in 25 years, and the public is invited to attend. The presentation is to start at 11 a.m. in the National Sports Centre, or in the Hamilton Cathedral in case of wet weather.