NYC is hot for the Queen

By Pete Catapano

pcatapano@am-ny.com

“It’s too bloody hot!”

That’s what 84-year-old Queen Elizabeth II might say Tuesday as she makes her first New York visit since 1976. As she tours Gotham, the high could tie the record of 101.

Stopping by for just one sizzling day, the Queen may want to add one of the city’s 500 cooling centers to her itinerary, which includes stops at the U.N., Ground Zero and the British Garden at Hanover Square.

Even though we’re barely into July, the Queen will get a taste of sweltering August weather.

After an eight-day visit with our Canadian neighbors, the monarch and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, 89, are expected to land at Kennedy Airport (in Queens, appropriately) early this afternoon.

She’ll speak to the U.N. General Assembly, and then visit Ground Zero at 5:30 p.m. to meet with victims’ families and emergency responders before ending her tour at Hanover Square.

Fortunately for the Queen, she’ll be back in London tomorrow, where it’s expected to be in the mild mid-70s.

We’ll be stuck with 90s most of the week — and possibly see little break in above-average temps for

the next 90 days.

While many New Yorkers are excited about the rare royal visit, East Village resident Roya Millard, 30, isn’t so pumped, saying with a shrug: “They’re just people.” 

The Queen won’t be amused if she gets stuck in a classic New York blackout Tuesday.

Con Edison told AP it was preparing for peak usage to break the record set on Aug. 2, 2006, as the city tries to cool off with AC.

“It sucks, but that’s what you get for living in New York,” said Harold Mendez, 42, of Flatbush, as the mercury hit 99.

 (Jenny Tai and Tim Herrera contributed to this story)