The Queen visited hundreds, if not thousands, of schools over the years - but one visit really sticks out. Now the former headteacher has shared his accout of the visit - and her very special request after spotting a photograph of her mother.
Chris Watts, 68, was headteacher at North Prospect Primary School for 16 years and recalled the visit in 1999 following Her Majesty's death on September 8, Plymouth Live reported.
Ahead of the big day, staff were taught how to greet the monarch, and the correct way of addressing her. But on the big day, Mr Watts said the Queen's relaxed manner was "infectious, prompting pupils to speak "to her like they had known her for a long time".
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The Queen's mother had opened the Plymouth school in 1932 - and the Queen was delighted to spot a photo of the occasion - which the monarch eagerly asked if she could keep
Mr Watts said: "In 1999 I was Headteacher at North Prospect School. Her majesty spent 40 minutes at the school, visiting classrooms, meeting staff, pupils and parents during one of the most memorable days for many of us privileged to be at the school that day.
"What struck me as her host for the visit was the ease with which I could communicate with her, and she with others. For almost a year we prepared for the visit and learnt protocols but on the day her relaxed manner was infectious and her interest in the school and its students made for free-flowing conversation.
"After the first meeting it was first name terms." He laughed. "I called the Queen Her Majesty but it was very relaxed. She was very easy to talk to, had lots of questions and was tremendous with the children. They spoke to her like they had known her for a long time."
"The Queen's Mother opened the school. Peggy Radmore (then a school governor) is in a photograph presenting flowers to Her Majesty. It was Peggy, then a student at the school, who gave flowers to the Queen Mother at the school's opening.
"Peggy had that photograph and we placed it where we would end the Royal Visit, ask Peggy to present flowers to HRH and officially unveil a commemorative plaque. The Queen saw the photograph and said, "It's my mother, may I have it?" We agreed and she passed it to the Lord Lieutenant as of course, the Queen did not carry her gifts.
He added: "It was a truly memorable day for the school, a deserving local community and Arthur Floyd (walking behind the Queen in one photograph) who served the area so selflessly for so many years."
He added: "One amusing thing I remember was when I was at Highgrove a month before the Queen's visit where I actually met Prince Charles [now King Charles III]. I was there with 99 other headteachers and I said to him 'I'm seeing your mother in a month's time, is there anything you would you like me to say to her?"
* This weekend, the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror celebrate the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special filled with all the key moments from Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror to get poth pullouts.
