T Square 200
Encyclopedia
T Square 200 was the name given to the son et lumière
event, held in Trafalgar Square
on Sunday, October 23, 2005, to mark the bicentenary
of the sea battle, the Battle of Trafalgar
, fought between the British Royal Navy
and the combined navies of France
and Spain off Cape Trafalgar
, Spain
on 21 October 1805 under the command of British Admiral Lord Nelson.
It was a large open air event, to a ticketed audience. Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke of Edinburgh
and Prince Michael of Kent
joined 10,000 members of the public to witness this commemorative occasion. It opened with a presentation on the importance of the sea and British maritime heritage. The continuing importance of the Royal Navy was emphasised.
The celebration displays included dancing (old naval dances), mock cutlass
-fighting, a simulated action by modern Royal Marines
, gymnastics and brass band music.
A musical finale was provided by the choir of Newcastle Royal Grammar School. Nelson's Column
featured during the evening, with a large array of spectacular lighting effects at the end of the show provided by British Lighting Designer Durham Marenghi.
The evening's show was preceded by His Royal Highness The Duke of York
attending a laying of a wreath at the special commemorative Trafalgar Parade, held in the morning. Over 500 Sea Cadets, joined by platoons from the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve and accompanied by a Band of HM Royal Marines, formed the parade.
A Service of Commemoration was then held in St Paul's Cathedral
, for invited guests. This was attended by their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales
(accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall), The Duke of York, The Princess Royal
and Prince Michael of Kent (accompanied by Princess Michael).
Son et lumière (show)
Son et lumière , or a sound and light show, is a form of nighttime entertainment that is usually presented in an outdoor venue of historic significance....
event, held in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
on Sunday, October 23, 2005, to mark the bicentenary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the sea battle, the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, fought between the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the combined navies of France
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
and Spain off Cape Trafalgar
Cape Trafalgar
Cape Trafalgar is a headland in the Province of Cádiz in the south-west of Spain. It lies on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the Strait of Gibraltar...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on 21 October 1805 under the command of British Admiral Lord Nelson.
It was a large open air event, to a ticketed audience. Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
and Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...
joined 10,000 members of the public to witness this commemorative occasion. It opened with a presentation on the importance of the sea and British maritime heritage. The continuing importance of the Royal Navy was emphasised.
The celebration displays included dancing (old naval dances), mock cutlass
Cutlass
A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket shaped guard...
-fighting, a simulated action by modern Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, gymnastics and brass band music.
A musical finale was provided by the choir of Newcastle Royal Grammar School. Nelson's Column
Nelson's Column
Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton at a cost of £47,000. It is a column of the Corinthian...
featured during the evening, with a large array of spectacular lighting effects at the end of the show provided by British Lighting Designer Durham Marenghi.
The evening's show was preceded by His Royal Highness The Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
attending a laying of a wreath at the special commemorative Trafalgar Parade, held in the morning. Over 500 Sea Cadets, joined by platoons from the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve and accompanied by a Band of HM Royal Marines, formed the parade.
A Service of Commemoration was then held in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
, for invited guests. This was attended by their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
(accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall), The Duke of York, The Princess Royal
Princess Royal
Princess Royal is a style customarily awarded by a British monarch to his or her eldest daughter. The style is held for life, so a princess cannot be given the style during the lifetime of another Princess Royal...
and Prince Michael of Kent (accompanied by Princess Michael).