THE Queen has just entered the history books with the longest reign in more than a thousand years of British monarchy.
Yesterday, September 9, marked a record-breaking 63 years and 217 days since she came to the throne, eclipsing the previous record held by her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, by one day.
Over the decades, Herefordshire has feted the Sovereign on each of her six visits to the county, the first one four years after her Coronation.
Crowds gathered for the royal visit in 1957, the mood equally joyous for the most recent visit during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. That first step on Herefordshire soil was indeed a momentous one – the last reigning monarch to visit was Charles I, over 300 years earlier.
Inspecting a prize-winning line-up of bulls during her 1957 visit
Go to our special celebration gallery a record-breaking reign
Elizabeth Alexander Mary, born on April 21, 1926, had just celebrated her 31st birthday when she arrived here with Prince Philip. From Ledbury they visited Leominster, before the Queen planted two oak trees at Queenswood. At Hereford, there was a rousing welcome from thousands of well-wishers.
She opened the Langford sale ring at Hereford’s old cattle market, and took tea at the Town Hall with the Mayor, Alderman CJ Gooding and Mayoress, Camilla Gooding.
The flags came out again in 1976 when the Queen arrived in Hereford to distribute Royal Maundy coins at the cathedral. Lunch was laid on at the Town Hall, catering done by Maria Vaughan of Cafe Ascari and 30 staff members.
An appreciative letter from Buckingham Palace was received by the Mayor, Mike Prendergast, praising caterers, waiters – catering staff from RAF Hereford – and the “admirable” playing of Herefordshire Young People’s Orchestra, during lunch. During the Maundy ceremony, the Queen was escorted by the Yeomen of the Guard.
Meeting the crowds in High Town in 1976
Go to our special celebratory gallery - visits through the decades
In 1987, the Queen returned for the third time, taking lunch at Bulmers where she was met by retired chairman, Bertram Bulmer and received the first bottle of cider brandy.
George Thomas, former public relations’ manager, recalled: “ The Queen had given him an oak tree from Windsor Park to make barrels for storing it in, so it was a fair swap.”
George also remembered concerns during the planning stage. “We were going to paint the loos but were advised not to, as the Queen and Prince Philip didn’t like the smell of fresh paint.”
In 1996,the Queen returned to open the new Mappa Mundi museum at Hereford Cathedral. The ceremony came after years of anxiety about displaying the 13th century map. Among guests were Lord Charteris, chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the arts’ benefactor, Sir Paul Getty. Seven years later, the Queen asked to meet farmers in Herefordshire after the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001. The Mynde at Much Dewchurch was the chosen venue, and Sir Thomas Dunne, Lord Lieutenant at the time, commented: “So many had had a rough time and the Queen was anxious to meet them.”
In 2012, the Queen and Prince Philip paid a sixth visit to Hereford as part of the royal tour of the UK to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
As the nation marks this week’s extraordinary milestone, Herefordshire can proudly claim its own piece of that history.
Enjoy our special celebration gallery - Queen Elizabeth II - a record-breaking reign
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