THE Queen will open Chester Zoo’s new £2m gateway to conservation during a two-day visit to the North West later this month.
Her Majesty, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will officially open gates to what has been styled the Diamond Jubilee Quarter on the morning of Thursday, May 17, at 10am.
Director general Mark Pilgrim said: “The Diamond Jubilee Quarter marks the start of a new, bright future for us, which will see significant development and change.
“To have Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh join us on this most special of days and in Her Majesty’s special year is fantastic and a wonderful testament to what we are achieving through our passionate and dedicated staff. We are very much looking forward to this wonderful celebration.”
Long-standing members of the zoo and other community partners have been invited to attend the event.
Members of the public will be able to line the entrance to the zoo and the main car park area to catch a glimpse of the royal couple as they arrive. The zoo will be closed until after the official opening.
The new zoo entrance is further inside the zoo in Upton-by-Chester than the existing entrance, and the new quarter allows visitors to see the elephants, visit the zoo shop and Bembe coffee shop before paying to go in to the main zoo.
The Queen is in Chester as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK to express her thanks to the city’s people for their continued support and loyalty during her 60 years on the throne.
On the day before her visit to Chester Zoo, Her Majesty and Prince Philip will visit Slater Terrace in Burnley, accompanied by The Prince of Wales, attend a lunch at Burnley Football Club, visit Accrington Market Hall and open UCLan's Junior University for Lancashire in Burnley.
Following the opening of the zoo’s Diamond Jubilee Quarter, the royal couple will travel to Warrington, where The Queen will officially open Orford Jubilee Park.
