Cheering crowds welcome Queen
Crowds cheered as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Leicester today for a royal tour of the city and county's newest landmarks.
The Queen, dressed in a soft pink skirt suit with a bright jewelled brooch pinned to her pink coat, brought colour to a cloudy and showery day. Her outfit was topped with a wide-brimmed pink hat.
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The Queen
The Prince wore a more sombre grey suit with a brown raincoat.
The couple stepped off the Queen's train, the Royal Sovereign, at 10.30am at Leicester railway station.
They were met by Lord Lieutenant Lady Gretton, Chief Constable Matt Baggott, Caroline Everard, wife of Everards brewery boss Richard, and John Sinnott, clerk to the lord lieutenancy.
Platform one had been cleared for the royal arrival. The couple were escorted up the steps to a crowd who cheered and waved flags as they walked through the station.
The Queen stopped to accept flowers from people who had queued in the main station.
John Biddle, 74, from Fairfield Street, Highfields, Leicester, said it was brilliant to see the Queen again.
He said: "I was standing in exactly the same place when she came six years ago. It was just fantastic to have her back in Leicester."
Pamela Horsfall, 70, former mayoress of Oadby and Wigston, had waited for two hours.
She said: "I follow the Queen. It's lovely that she has come to our home city and great that she has got such a good reception from people."
To see photos of the Queen's visit, go to:
6 Comments
by Robbo the Yobbo, West End of Leicester
Friday, December 05 2008, 12:14PM
“It is time to ring down the curtain on the monarchy, an old-fashioned relic of a bygone age. It isn't needed nowadays since the peasants can kowtow to celebrities instead.”
by VH, Leics
Thursday, December 04 2008, 3:31PM
“Oh Bobby, tut tut. Yes the Royal Family enjoy a lavish lifestyle, but certainly not at our expense and by god they bring a lot into the country, mainly through tourism.
Long live the Queen!”
by CJ, Leicester
Thursday, December 04 2008, 3:16PM
“Some interesting views here, I agree with parts. I am not a big fan of the Royals myself. But let¿s not forget they do support and run some very good charities throughout the UK and abroad. Like the Prince¿s Trust and princess Dianna did fantastic work in her time. Yes they have very good life-styles they are Royalty, they won¿t live in council estate will they! It¿s our History and will remain that way.”
by Daniel, Leicester
Thursday, December 04 2008, 2:13PM
“Although I am not sure exactly what the royal family do for us personally I do feel that we should be very proud of our history and our monarchy, they are the real and only true symbol of britain and they are what most other countries recognise us for!. I say 'god bless the queen'”
by JW, Leicester
Thursday, December 04 2008, 2:05PM
“Having lived in a republic I think the Royal family as a bargain. Yes they have a more lavish lifestyle than most but it is not on public money. We don't waste money on elections, we get continuity in our head of state instead of it changing, and we miss out on the 2 years of campaining for re-election in every 4 years which happens in the USA. If you don't like our system try living somewhere else - I have and I came home.”
by Bobby, Leicester
Thursday, December 04 2008, 1:52PM
“As a republican I feel there is no place in a constitutional democracry for an unelected royal family. The queen wastes millions of pounds of tax payers money and enjoys a lavish lifestyle at our expense. We should remove the royal family and give their money and assets to the people who need them most.”