At the Castle Island in Mirow the Festival of Lights took place this evening. The event was held to mark the death 193 years ago today of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain the consort of King George III. The event began in the Church of St John where Dr Rajko Lippert the Grand Ducal House’s spokesman and historian gave the keynote speech on Queen Charlotte’s influence upon the future generations of the Grand Ducal House and the Grand Duchy. Mr. Groh from the Neustrelitz Music School arranged the music: Maria-Theresia von Paradis’s ‘Sicilienne’; ‘Abide with me’ and ‘The last Rose of Summer’.
The 100-150 people who were inside the church then joined the children and other members of the public for the ceremonial lighting of the Castle Island with a children’s lantern procession from the lower Schloss, where Queen Charlotte was born, up to the courtyard in between the Schloss and the Cavalier’s House. The lantern procession was followed by a gun salute by the Rifle Association of Mirow in honour of Queen Charlotte.
The Festival of Lights marks the end of the ‘Year of Queen Charlotte’ which was set up by Henry Tesch the former Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister for Education, Science and Culture. Overall the ‘Year of Queen Charlotte’ has proved to be a success with Mirow seeing a significant increase in visitor numbers.