AS the nation gets ready to say a final farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh today, here is a look back at his visits to Bradford during his life.

1949

Prince Philip opened the Bradford Grammar School and was presented with a shawl for the then baby Prince Charles.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

1954

On Thursday, October 28, 1954, nearly 18 months after her Coronation at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth II made a five-and-a-half hour state visit to Bradford with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

It was part of a nationwide tour, and followed state visits lasting nearly six months to 11 Empire and Commonwealth countries.

After lunch, the royal party was driven to the cricket ground at Bradford (Park Avenue) to be sung to by 30,000 school children.

The final stop of the royal visit was Perseverance Mills, Dudley Hill, where several hundred millworkers welcomed the Queen and Duke.

1969

On February 7 1969, a day when it had been snowing heavily, Prince Philip personally greeted 30 or more guests and trade union representatives in the banqueting hall of the Town Hall, Bradford.

During the same year the Duke of Edinburgh returned to the city for a star-studded event held at the city’s Alhambra Theatre to raise funds for the York Minster Appeal. The Queen visited Bradford five years later.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

1997

Bradford's royal charter centenary was marked with Her Majesty's third visit in 1997.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, came to Bradford on Maunday Thursday, March 27.

Bradford was preparing for the monarch, whose last visit had been 23 years earlier, to mark the centenary of Bradford's royal charter as a city in 1897.

The royal couple visited Bradford Cathedral where Maunday Money was distributed.

They also walked the short distance to unveil a plaque in the new Centenary Square and to pay their respects at the Bradford City fire memorial.

After lunch at City Hall with the Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Mitchell and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Peggy Mitchell, the Queen and the Duke were driven to Valley Parade to open the club's new £1.5 million Ciba stand along Midland Road.

2007

The Queen and Prince Philip returned to Centenary Square while on their next visit to the city on May 24, 2007.

She arrived at Bradford Interchange, where she was introduced to a line-up of dignitaries including then Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Robin Owens and West Yorkshire's Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison.

During her visit she received a posy from the five-year-old Lydia Beshenivsky, daughter of murdered Bradford policewoman Sharon Beshenivsky.

The Queen also unveiled a plaque at Trafalgar House, the new headquarters of Bradford South police division and visited a new £3m Hindu temple in Leeds Road.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

2012

Saltaire was awash with red, white and blue on July 19, 2012 as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited the World Heritage Site as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the nation.

The Royal couple's visit included a visit to the then technology firm Pace in Victoria Road.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh joined guests including Bishop of Bradford Nick Baines, former Lord Mayor, Councillor Naveeda Ikram, and Pace chairman Allan Leighton, for a three-course lunch of Kilnsey trout, Nidderdale lamb and Yorkshire cheeses.

A healthy throng waved Union Jack flags, while the Royal couple were greeted in the village by local dignitaries including Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith, and Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe.