OPENING a stand at Valley Parade, unveiling a plaque at the city's police headquarters, The Queen has a long and distinguished relationship with Bradford.
Her Majesty celebrates her 95th birthday today, her first as a widow following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death earlier this month.
Today is The Queen’s 95th birthday.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2021
HM was born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in London, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York.
This year The Queen remains at Windsor Castle during a period of Royal Mourning following the death of The Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/kOeH399Ndp
But the Queen has also paid a number of visits to Bradford during her reign. Here are details of each of The Queen's five trips to the district:
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.
It was the city's first royal visit since 1942 when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured wartime Bradford.
Among the people in town that Thursday was 17-year-old David Hockney. In 1954 he was in his second year at Bradford Art College.
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.
1974
Her Majesty greeting the crowds outside Bradford's former Odeon cinema on a visit to the city in November 1974.
The Queen had officially unveiled a plaque to open the new Civic Precinct, she then asked the Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Hall, to explain the origin of the word Tyrls, before entering the new Police HQ.
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.
To mark the occasion the area adjacent to City Hall had been converted into a little park and next to that a paved pedestrian space.
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.
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.
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