Comment: Royal approval seals success

May 23 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

TO be visited by the monarch twice in six months is by far the best seal of approval that Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture can receive, and proof that its impact is being felt way beyond the realms of Merseyside.

Such an impression is further boosted by Britain’s head of state, who has said herself that she is impressed by the redevelopment of the city.

Speaking to officials during a tour of the new arena the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, spoke of how pleased she was to be in the city.

And the tour of the massive £1bn Liverpool One complex – ahead of its opening to the public next week – shows that the investment and development around the very same place that kick- started Liverpool’s growth as the "second city of the Empire" three centuries ago is now repeating itself, creating a new sense of pride and optimism in Liverpool as well as jobs, opportunities and a better environment.

As the Echo Arena and Conference Centre (ACC) Liverpool chief executive Bob Prattey says, to have the Queen visit twice in the past six months is a huge accolade for what’s going on in Liverpool, as well as a vote of confidence in the building.

But that vote of confidence extends beyond the building itself to the rest of the city.

It is sometimes easy to forget, when living here, how impressive Liverpool’s rapid regeneration has been, and how enviously other parts of the country look upon it.

That the Queen has seen fit to show her support not once, but twice, is a vindication of how Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture has gone so far, while still not quite halfway through the year.

Coming on top of news that more than 3m people are expected to have visited Liverpool’s cultural attractions so far this year, as figures continue to break all records in Capital of Culture year, it shows that this flagship event is delivering everything that was expected of it, and more.