Tourists throng Queen’s getaway in Nyeri as world marks her 60 years on the throne

Tourists on Monday thronged the Treetops Hotel in Nyeri where Queen Elizabeth II received news of her father’s death 60 years ago as commonwealth countries marked her diamond jubilee celebrations.

The hotel was nominated as one of the places where the jubilee beacon would be lit due to its connection with the Queen.

The Aberdares Safari hotels marketing manager Elizabeth Nguraru told Nation that 60 guests had booked to witness the beacon lighting. Read (Cheering crowds greet Queen Elizabeth at start of jubilee)

“We already have 60 tourists who have booked with us to witness the rare occasion and we are expecting more because there are others who are confirming their arrival for the 10pm event,” said Ms Nguraru.

A host of dignitaries led by Tourism assistant minister Cecily Mbarire, a representative from the British High Commission and the Aberdares Safari Hotels chairman James Waibochi graced the occasion.

The hotel has been given prominence due to the Queen’s relationship with it and groups of local and international journalists were hosted to cover the rare event.

On the night her father died, Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip were escorted to a state dinner by then Kenyan Chief Justice, Sir Horace Herne, before the death was made public.

She returned to Britain the next day and ascended the throne where she has reigned for 60 years.

“Due to the hotel’s connection with the Queen it has been registered to take part in the Queen’s diamond jubilee beacon which is co-sponsored by the British High Commission in Nairobi,” said Ms Nguraru.

Princess Elizabeth was staying at the hotel when she received the news of the death of her father King George IV on the night of February 5, 1952.

Events to commemorate the jubilee cerebrations in the country started on April 28, with the launch of Jubilee Forest, which is a Kenya Wildlife Service-led initiative that targets to rehabilitate 100 hectares around the hotel.

During a state visit to Kenya on November 13, 1983, Queen Elizabeth returned to the hotel and noticed the retreat of the forest.

“Aberdares Safari Hotels initiated ‘Return the Bush’ programme with a vision to rehabilitate 125 hectares around the salient area of Aberdares National Park and guests will plant a tree,” she said.

It has been 115 years since Britain celebrated a diamond Jubilee in 1897, when Queen Elizabeth’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, cerebrated 60 years at the throne.

Hundreds of beacons will be lit across the world at exactly 10pm local times with the final being the one to be lit by the Queen in Britain 30 minutes later.

Britain has been holding four days cerebrations to mark 60 years of the 86-year-old’s monarch rein, with Monday and Tuesday held as national holiday.

The ceremony begun on Saturday with a 41-gun salute by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery at Horse Guard Parade in Central London.

Some 1,000 flotillas on River Thames landed the Guinness Bookof records for the largest parade of boats on Sunday.