Passengers arriving at Heathrow’s Terminal 1 were given a proper London welcome today as a group of Pearly Kings and Queens gathered at the airport for a traditional cockney knees-up as part of a tourism promotion.

The ‘Pearlies’ greeted passengers with the spoons and a good ol’ rabbit.  Even terminal announcements – normally broadcast in the best Queen’s English – were read out in traditional rhyming slang, with passengers being reminded to ‘take care on the apples and pairs’, and that ‘saucepan lids are not permitted to ride on the baggage trolleys.’

Mike Brown, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow, said: “We are trying to bring some of London’s unique characteristics to Heathrow, to entertain passengers but also to show off some of the city’s history and its culture.  The Pearly Kings and Queens are very welcome, and we hope passengers enjoy the knees-up.”

William McCarthy arriving from Auckland said: “I have never seen anything quite like this. What a welcome to the UK!”

Pearly Queen of Islington Phyllis Broadbent said: “We’ve never been to Heathrow before, it’s rather exciting! The Pearlies are a London tradition and this is London’s airport - now people arriving from all over the world have seen us!”