Roads closed as French president visits Windsor

In preparation for the state visit of French President Sarkozy on 26 March, much of Windsor will be closed to traffic today.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his new wife are to be driven through Windsor on Wednesday (26 March) in a horse-drawn carriage with the Queen and Prince Philip escorted by Household Cavalry. The procession will be along a town centre route decorated with flags. This will be Windsor's sixth state visit since 1998. The previous day (Tuesday 25 March) will be a full rehearsal in real time complete with all solders and Household Cavalry - and road closures.

The rehearsal leaves the station at noon and takes around 20 mins to reach Windsor Castle. Road closures will be in force in the town centre from 9.45am to 3pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday March 25 and 26. However, the police and council staff will be working to ensure that the town is re-opened at the earliest possible opportunity.

There will also be very short road closures to facilitate troop movements between 10.50am and 11.15pm (approx) and again between 1.30 and 1.50pm (approx) at: St Leonard's Road (from Bolton Road), A308 Frances Road, A308 Osborne Road, Kings Road roundabout (by Long Walk), A308 Albert Road (from Old Windsor) and A332 Kings Road (from Peanut Roundabout).

Car parking

Most Royal Borough car parks will be open as usual, with the exception of River Street, Home Park and part of King Edward VII (Datchet Road), which can be accessed from the Datchet direction only before 9.45am.

For drivers who cannot access their usual car park and for those coming into the town centre to watch the procession there is a park and walk facility at The Brocas, Eton (courtesy of Eton College).

The President and Madame Sarkozy are scheduled to arrive in Windsor at 12 noon on Wednesday March 26. They will be greeted by the Queen and Prince Philip in a specially-constructed pavilion adjacent to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station. Also there to add a welcome on behalf of the Royal Borough will be the Mayor, Cllr Leo Walters.

Afterwards the royal party and their visitors will board horse-drawn carriages for the procession to Windsor Castle, accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry.

The procession route will be: Datchet Road, Thames Street, High Street, Park Street, Long Walk, Cambridge Gate and Cambridge Drive for the drive up the Long Walk to Windsor Castle. Crowd barriers will be installed along the route (with pedestrian crossing points open at all times except during the procession). There will be a viewing area for people who are disabled at the bottom of Thames Street (by the King George V Memorial).

For more travel information, click here.