Residents will have fond memories of Queen Elizabeth visiting West Dunbartonshire on numerous occasions during her 70-year reign.
Her Majesty’s first visit to the region was on April 16, 1953 – six weeks before her Coronation – when she attended John Brown’s shipyard to launch HMS Britannia.
She also accepted the keys to Dumbarton Castle on a visit with her husband Prince Philip later the same year, which was attended by thousands of people eager to see a glimpse of the new Queen.
There is a black and white video documenting the Royal occasion, with a commentator narrating: “At Dumbarton Castle, thousands of Scots gather to welcome the Queen and the Duke.
“The keeper of the castle Major General Telfer Smollett brings the key of Dumbarton Castle to Her Majesty to touch in token of acceptance.”
They returned in 1967 to launch the luxury cruise liner named in her honour – the Queen Elizabeth 2, more famously known as the QE2.
On June 28, 1965, the Royal couple made another visit to the area with the Duke, visiting the Singer Factory, where 1700 school children lined the carriageway from the factory entrance in Kilbowie Road to catch a glimpse of the Royal party.
They visited Dumbarton Municipal Chambers and Dumbarton Common before leaving to fomally open the new county council offices in Garshake.
In the afternoon, they cruised around Loch Lomond on the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer, before visiting the Vale of Leven Hospital and Helensburgh Municipal Chambers, signing Helensburgh Town Council’s visitor book.
While in the town, they also visited Helensburgh Central railway station and are pictured admiring a model of the first ‘Blue Train’ which would soon be introduced into service on the Helensburgh-Glasgow line.
It was the Queen’s only visit to Helensburgh during her reign.
In August, 1986, Her Majesty and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia, berthing at Rothesay Dock to participate in celebrations for the Burgh Centenary.
At St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank the Queen planted a Centenary Rose on the front lawn before meeting patients and staff.
Her Majesty planted a second Centenary Rose in Dalmuir Park and also unveiled a commemorative plaque and stone at the Clyde Shopping Centre.
She would return 17 years later to reopen the centre following an extensive refurbishment.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations of 2012 marked Her Majesty’s last visit to West Dunbartonshire as part of a UK-wide tour, attending a reception at Our Holy Redeemers Primary School in Whitecrook.
Lord-Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, Jill Young MBE, said; “This is a time of great sadness for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the County of Dunbartonshire with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“The head of a worldwide family of over two billion people she had an extraordinarily long reign – the longest of any British Sovereign.
“She was an outstanding example of service both in wartime and peacetime and a symbol of stability through decades in which the world has seen many changes. Dunbartonshire was honoured to have many visits by Her Majesty throughout her reign, the most recent just last summer when she visited the Irn Bru factory in Cumbernauld.
“Our condolences go to all the members of the Royal Family. We look back with gratitude and look forward to offering our support and loyalty to King Charles III.”
