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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Matt Bryan

A look back at the Queen's visits to Lanarkshire ahead of platinum jubilee celebrations

Over the years Her Majesty the Queen has made a number of royal visits to Lanarkshire.

From opening maternity units, to stopping off at local train stations, the monarch is no stranger to the area.

This week, a host of events are set to take place across Lanarkshire to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign.

Much is being done to mark the upcoming history-making occasion.

But here, we take a look back down memory lane and remember the several occasions the head of state touched down on Lanarkshire soil.

1947 - Hamilton and Motherwell

A visit of the royal family took place in 1947 when the future Queen was still Princess Elizabeth.

They visited Dalzell House, where locals turned out in their droves to catch a glimpse of King George and his family.

The parade passed Motherwell Cross (pictured), through Hamilton Cross, on its way to Cadzow Street and Hamilton racecourse.

Royal party at Motherwell Cross en route to Dalzell House, 1947 (Lanarkshire Live)

The Queen has a long history with Hamilton – going back 75 years. Her engagement to Royal Navy Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was officially announced in July 1947, just days before the visit to Hamilton Park with her father George V.

That event on Saturday, July 19, 1947, was one of the couple's first public engagements together.

1953 - Hamilton, Rutherglen, Airdrie, Coatbridge and Wishaw

Thousands welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to Rutherglen in 1953, just weeks after her coronation.

The Royal Burgh was an early appointment for her at the start of her reign.

On June 29, 1953, the monarch took in the scenes of countless locals in Hamilton cheering the royal party as the entourage drove through the streets of the town from Central Station to the County Buildings and on to Larkhall.

The Hamilton Advertiser wrote at the time: “Golden sunshine poured down like a benediction upon Her Majesty the Queen, radiant beside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as she travelled through Lanarkshire on Monday in a gleaming, open car bearing the Royal Standard.”

That same year, the Queen and Prince Philip returned to Lanarkshire for a visit to Airdrie and Coatbridge.

And on the same day, residents of Motherwell and Wishaw also welcomed the royal couple.

Visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to Airdrie and Coatbridge (Lanarkshire Live)

1962 - East Kilbride and Bellshill

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh paid a special three-hour visit to Lanarkshire in 1962.

The whirlwind tour included a visit to Bellshill Maternity Hospital, which was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

On that same day, July 2, she also visited East Kilbride.

The monarch unveiled a plaque dedicated to her father in the town centre.

Remarkably, East Kilbride only became a town five years before the Queen took to the throne.

And she would return 28 years later on July 12, 1990, to officially open the Olympia shopping and leisure centre.

The Queen first came to East Kilbride in 1962 (Lanarkshire Live)

1965, 1977, and 2019 - Cumbernauld visits

Another North Lanarkshire town welcomed the monarch in the sixties as Cumbernauld hosted its royal visits.

Again, thousands lined up to catch a glimpse of the Queen.

She returned in 1977 and was given a tour of the Tryst, sport and leisure centre. (Pictured below)

Queen at Tryst, Cumbernauld in 1977 (Lanarkshire Live)

But one of her most recent visits to Lanarkshire was three years ago, when she attended Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld.

Around 1400 students welcomed the head of state as part of Royal Week.

1974 - Motherwell

In another royal engagement to the town, Queen Elizabeth visited Motherwell in 1974.

Here she was greeted by workers at the town's railway station.

The Queen at Motherwell Railway Station, 1974 (Lanarkshire Live)

1997 - Mossend

The profile of a local factory in Mossend was about to get a huge boost in 1997, when the Queen travelled north of the border to open the plant.

Television company Chunghwa Picture Tubes created thousands of local jobs but it was the monarch who officially opened the former site.

2000 - New Lanark

It was the New Lanark World Heritage Site which played host to Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Lanarkshire of the millennium.

On June 29, 2000, she was welcomed by thousands lining the streets, many with Scotland flags, at the historic site.

During her visit, the museum says Her Majesty was presented with a silent monitor, the tool mill managers used in Robert Owen's time to monitor the behaviour and productivity of the millworkers.

The Queen at New Lanark World Heritage Site in 2000 (New Lanark World Heritage Site)

2021 - Cumbernauld

In her first visit to Lanarkshire since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen came to Cumbernauld last June.

She was welcomed to the Irn-Bru headquarters in the town as part of Royal Week, where she was joined by Prince William.

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