Dumfries is hoping for the Royal seal of approval – after officially submitting its bid for city status.
Excited youngsters from Georgetown Nursery joined Dumfries Provost Tracey Little in sending a striking gold envelope containing details of the bid to Her Majesty the Queen.
The posting of the envelope – marked ‘Queen of the South’ – marks the official submission of the bid as part of the Queen’s 2022 Civic Honours competition.
If the Dumfries bid is successful, it would see the town become the first city in the south of Scotland – and the first rural city in the country.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Awards will announce the successful cities next year.
Provost Little is leading the committee making the Dumfries bid, which is supported by local charities, businesses, schools, community groups and organisations across the area, including DGHP.
She said: “This is such an exciting moment, not just for Dumfries but for the whole region.
“I’m absolutely delighted so many school children from Georgetown Nursery were able to join me and play their part in this historical moment for Dumfries.
“This bid is about creating a bright and successful future for generations to come – and the kids loved being at the very heart of it.
“City status would bring new investment, new jobs and new infrastructure to the area – and be a fantastic boost to civic pride.
“We have our fingers crossed Her Majesty loves our ‘Queen Of The South’ bid. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the Queen came to see us when we win?”
Other Scottish towns expected to submit a bid to Queen’s 2022 Civic Honours competition include Dunfermline, Greenock, Oban and Irvine.
In 2012, in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, the winners were Perth in Scotland, Chelmsford in England and St Asaph in Wales.
