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CNN Saturday Morning News

Queen Elizabeth's Trip Features Centuries-Old Traditions

Aired July 14, 2001 - 08:58   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Queen Elizabeth has stepped outside the royal palace and she's traveled to the Channel Islands. That is the first such trip in more than a decade.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And as you will see, the queen's two day visit is being filled with centuries-old traditions. With more now, here's Libby Wiener of ITN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIBBY WIENER, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The queen's visit to Jersey had been eagerly awaited. But as her helicopter landed, these crowds were perhaps too close to the action for comfort. The only ceremony here, cans of disinfectant and a mat to guard against foot-and-mouth. But as her official duties got under way, the queen who, by a quirk of history is known in Jersey as the Duke of Normandy, would be treated to some rather rare and unusual pageantry.

Escorted by the local sheriffs, she was taken to an open air sitting of the island's parliament.

(on camera): Every now and again in Jersey, the past comes back to life, as in this ceremony of homage to the queen dating back to Medieval times. Among the many tributes, a pair of dead ducks.

(voice-over): To ensure they were as fresh as possible, a cool box was required. The birds were then transferred to a silver platter, to be presented to Her Majesty. She wasn't flustered by this payment in kind, although the duke seemed somewhat bemused by the offering. But were they really good enough to eat?

JOHN OEILLET, ROYAL COURT USHER: These ducks have been frozen. They've been specially prepared for the queen and they are certainly edible and that's what's going to happen to them.

WIENER (on camera): They're going to be someone's lunch now?

OEILLET: They are certainly going to be somebody's lunch.

WIENER (voice-over): But not fit for the royal table. Instead, the queen was served smoked salmon and lobster.

Libby Wiener, ITN, Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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