Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II will always have a special place in the hearts of many people in West Lothian - and some were lucky enough to meet her.
The monarch has visited the county several times over the years to the delight of local people.
The Courier reported her Coronation in 1953 and has followed her visits every time she has come to West Lothian to perform her official duties.
Her first, in 1955, just two years after she was crowned Queen, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh take part in a tour of Scotland.
She spoke to excited locals in Bo’ness, Linlithgow, Armadale, Whitburn, Bathgate and South Queensferry. The Royal party also passed through Uphall, Broxburn, Winchburgh and Kirkliston.
During that visit, on June 22, local man Jimmy Kean came to the rescue of Prince Philip.
The Prince had been travelling by helicopter to meet The Queen for a tour of a Glasgow carpet factory, but poor weather meant the pilot had to land at Creamery Park in Bathgate.
But the Duke needed to get to Glasgow urgently and so a call was put out to local garages to find a suitable vehicle to get him there.
Boghall man Jimmie was shocked to discover his new 1939 Hillman 14 Silver Grey had been picked for a “rush job” and became part of the Royal tour.
He remembered the episode fondly and spoke to the Courier many years later about the experience.
According to the West Lothian Courier at the time, there was a wonderful turnout for the Royal visit.
She visited the former NEC semiconductor plant in Livingston on July 4, 1983 and spoke with workers.
Four years later Livingston welcomed the Royal couple in 1987 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the town and hundreds of people turned out to see the Queen and Prince Philip during their whistle-stop tour.
More than 100 local schoolchildren sang ‘The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow’.
Livingston Mill Farm was the first port of call. The Queen was presented with a bouquet by Livingston Village Gala Day Queen Leigh McKissack before officially opening the complex.
The royal couple then met pupils from Peel and Howden St Andrew’s primary schools with music from Livingston and Pumpherston Pipe Band.
Then it was off to the Forum Arena, where they were greeted by over 1000 residents and 11-year-old Zoe Jephcote presented the Queen with a bunch of roses.
And in 1989 she was at Linlithgow for another visit.
Her Majesty was in West Lothian again on June 29, 1994 when she opened the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in West Calder.
She had been their patron since 1990 and, as a world-famous dog lover, her backing was a great help in highlighting the rescue dogs in its care.
The charity paid tribute to her, saying: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty the Queen and wish to convey our sympathy to the Royal Family.
“We will always be grateful for her support.”
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