The 1805 Dispatches #21.DofE April 2021 2 From G W (Bill) White, The 1805 Club Chairman The Trafalgar Way was created in 2005 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Readers wishing to know more about this fascinating and successful project should visit www.trafalgarway.org. This article describes the involvement of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as other members of the Royal Family. In 2005 I was Vice Chairman of The 1805 Club and also became Chairman of The New Trafalgar Dispatch. This was a project, largely devised by me, to symbolically re-enact the delivery of the original Trafalgar Dispatches from Cape Trafalgar via Falmouth to London. In its land phase, the project resulted in the creation of The Trafalgar Way. In view of the historic national signi�icance of Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, we enquired whether the Royal Family would wish to be involved, and their Royal Highnesses, The Princess Anne and The Earl of Wessex agreed to lend their support; The Princess Anne at Falmouth and The Earl of Wessex at Bagshot Park in Surrey. Then, in 2007, it was decided to see whether it would be possible in November of that year to commemorate the delivery of the news of Trafalgar to King George III at Windsor in November 1805. Our equestrian consultant for The Trafalgar Way project, Richard James, was also an expert on carriage driving, which had resulted in his becoming known well to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, whom he often accompanied in driving his four-in-hand in Windsor Great Park.. Richard James enquired of the Duke whether he would consider hosting a reception at Windsor Castle and he graciously agreed. It was held in the Queen’s Guard Chamber adjacent to both St George’s Hall and The Waterloo Chamber. Poignantly, a display case in the Guard Chamber contains the lead shot that killed Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. His Royal Highness was generous in his welcome as well as displaying great wit and being well informed. The original Dispatch was in the British Library, and HRH was given a facsimile of it, and The New Trafalgar Dispatch. His Royal Highness’s friendly conviviality with the 1805 Club members and guests who were present will long be remembered. (Continued on next page) Above: HRH the Duke of Edinburgh is at the far left of the assembled guests awaiting the arrival of the replica post-chaise at Windsor Castle on 9 November 2007. The original post-chaise had conveyed Lt. Lapenotiere from Falmouth when he delivered the original Trafalgar Dispatch in 1805. The replica was built and used to create The Trafalgar Way and deliver The New Trafalgar Dispatch. Below: HRH Prince Philip is shown the framed New Dispatch by Bill White, who at the time was both chairman of The New Trafalgar Dispatch and vice chairman of The 1805 Club. (Photographs: George Bodnar. For more refer to the next page.)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTYyMzU=