Dubbo's most ardent royalist Betty Stevenson wants locals to join her in giving Prince Edward a rousing welcome when he flies into town tomorrow morning. The Earl of Wessex is scheduled to set down at Dubbo airport at 10.30am and will drive directly to Western Plains Zoo for a two-hour function recognising local indigenous students involved in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. "It would be highly embarrassing for Dubbo if The Earl is not suitably welcomed,'' 79-year-old Betty said. "I've organised a group of friends to wave flags along the road in West Dubbo and would like to see a wide cross-section of other people joining in. It would be wonderful to see the road to the zoo lined with enthusiastic locals.'' Betty has been an eager royalist since childhood and thrives on news about the British monarchy. As a schoolgirl in Dubbo she enjoyed celebrating royal events in style and after moving to Sydney joined the throngs in Hyde Park to catch a glimpse of The Queen in February 1954. "We lined up at 4am to ensure a good position and were rewarded with a wonderful view.'' Betty was working for a Pitt Street company in those days and recalls the central business district as being a mass of people straining to see newly-crowned Elizabeth II - the first reigning monarch to visit Australia. "The nation was swept up by excitement and the reception was incredible,'' she said. "Obviously times have changed and a lot of people no longer have such a keen interest in the monarchy. There isn't the same enthusiasm and people tend to take the royals for granted. "In my view they do a wonderful job and we are lucky to have them. Prince Edward seems to be such a charming young man."