local ground for the first time yesterday.

There were no crowds at the Civil Air Terminal to greet the prince who arrived on a Royal Air Force Queen's flight on schedule at 6 p.m.

But he did receive a warm greeting from Governor Sir Desmond Langley, his ADC Capt. Larry Mussenden, and officers of the Police Special Branch as he exited the rear of the aircraft.

Minutes later 28-year-old Prince Edward was whisked off to Government House for a black tie Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship dinner.

Today he will be guest of honour at the annual Peppercorn Ceremony in St.

George's.

He is scheduled to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage at King's Square shortly before 11 a.m.

After witnessing the pomp and ceremony involved in the Masonic Lodge of Bermuda paying a tiny peppercorn as annual rent for its headquarters, the Old State House, he will have a private tour of the State House.

This will be followed by a reception hosted by St. George's Mayor the Wor.

Henry Hayward and the Corporation of St. George's at the Margaret Rose Restaurant.

Prince Edward is scheduled to leave the East End at 12.30 p.m. and return to Government House, where at 2 p.m. he will take part in a tree planting ceremony before leaving for a private engagement.

Beginning at 6 p.m. at Government House, Prince Edward, who is a trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association, will present awards to 31 participants of the Award Scheme.

He will then enjoy a buffet supper at Government House before attending 10 to 15 minutes of a Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society rehearsal of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' at Daylesford Theatre.

BMDS spokesman Mr. Warren Cabral said Prince Edward was invited to watch the rehearsal of the British comedy because of his keen interest in theatre.

Prince Edward is patron of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and president of the National Youth Music Theatre.

In February, 1988, he joined Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company as a full-time production assistant and worked on the musicals Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love.

Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon he will take a look at Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme projects, before attending the Premier's luncheon at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club with 40 guests including young people representing the arts.

He will officially open the 55th Agricultural Exhibition at the Botanical Gardens around 3 p.m., two hours before he is scheduled to leave the Island.

WELCOME TO BERMUDA - Governor Sir Desmond Langley greets Prince Edward as he arrives for his first visit to Bermuda yesterday.