Royal visit to Colchester
Their Majesties are visiting Colchester Castle, to mark Colchester’s recently awarded city status with community groups, volunteers, local businesses, conservation projects and arts organisations. During the visit, Their Majesties will also unveil the name of Colchester Zoo’s newest addition, a baby white rhino.
The King and The Queen Consort will then visit Colchester Library to take afternoon tea with Age UK volunteers and service users and learn about the library’s impact in the community through the Essex Year of Reading.
Here’s everything you need to know about the visit:
Road closures in Colchester city centre will be in place between 7am and 2pm for the Royal visit.
Road closures are in place on East Hill, High Street and Head Street, Culver Street West, North Hill and Sir Isaacs Walk.
You can read the full road closure information and plan before you travel.
On Monday 06 March parking restrictions will be in force in the High Street from 1pm and 11pm for:
- Head Street
- North Hill
- Culver Street West
- Sir Issacs Walk
- Eld Lane
- Castle Bailey
- Museum Street
- St Nicholas Square
- Queen Street
Any vehicles that have been left once the parking restrictions come into force will be moved.
There will be an impact to bus services, as the High Street will be closed between 7am and 2pm. We suggest you check with your bus service provider for routes before travelling.
View the bus timetables (PDF, 153KB)
The taxi ranks from the High Street and Head Street will be temporarily relocated to North Hill.
Access into Priory Street will be affected by a redirection of traffic with vehicles accessing the car park between 7am and 2pm. Cars will enter off East Hill and exit via Queen Street.
Napier Road South Car Park will be closed on 06 and 07 March and Sheepen Road Car Park will be closed on 07 March, but all other council-owned car parks will be open.
Find more information on parking in the city centre
Will I be able to watch?
Local residents are welcome to gather along the High Street.
The King and Queen Consort will be met by The Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, and The Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Tim Young.
Inside the Castle they will meet community groups, volunteers, local businesses, conservation projects and arts organisations. During the visit, Their Majesties will also unveil the name of Colchester Zoo’s newest addition, a baby white rhino.
At Colchester Library they will take afternoon tea with Age UK volunteers and service users and learn about the library’s impact in the community through the Essex Year of Reading.
As Prince of Wales, His Majesty visited Essex University in 2014 for its Big Bang Fair.
His Majesty is also Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment and has made frequent visits to Colchester Garrison. His Majesty has presented tour of duty medals to soldiers including those who returned from Afghanistan and last summer, he visited Colchester’s parachute regiment at Merville Barracks.
For information on the day of the royal visit, follow:
- @EnjoyColchester on Facebook
- @YourColchester on Twitter
Page last reviewed: 2 March 2023