The Duke of Gloucester visits Dudley borough
Dignitaries at Dudley Council welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester to the borough last week, with a commemorative tree planting ceremony at Coronation Gardens in Dudley town centre.
The oak tree was planted in commemoration of The Coronation of King Charles III at the aptly named gardens on Wednesday.
Compost made from floral tributes, which were laid by residents across the borough in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II at the time of her passing, was placed in the ground where the oak tree was planted.
Kevin O’Keefe, chief executive at Dudley Council, said:
It was a huge honour to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to Dudley borough.
Dudley’s Coronation Gardens is believed to date back to the 1930s, around the time of the accession of George VI, and the area was originally named ‘Princess Gardens’ following the birth of the then Princess Elizabeth, so it is a very fitting place for this special tree.
Following the planting ceremony, His Royal Highness visited the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre at Castle Gate. He was joined by representatives from Dudley Council and greeted by senior directors from BCIMO, which has been established to oversee the build, launch and operation of the site.
The Duke also visited the Stourbridge Glass Museum and the Black Country Living Museum.