Bradford looks set to miss out when the Queen tours Yorkshire as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations this year.

Thousands of Royal supporters in the city are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II's accession to power on February 6, 1952.

But the Telegraph & Argus has learned that the Queen will not visit Bradford when she and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh come to Yorkshire on July 11 and 12.

Her last visit was on March 27, 1997, when she dished out the Maundy Money at Bradford Cathedral.

Before that it was 1974 when the Queen opened the Tyrls police station.

She will instead visit Leeds during the two-day tour which falls on the first anniversary of the Bradford riots.

Bradford Council Leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "Initial inquiries were made via the Lord Lieutenant's Office last year into the possibility of the Queen visiting Bradford in celebration of her Golden Jubilee.

"We were informed then that this was unlikely given her visit to Bradford for the City's Centenary celebrations in 1997. "The Council is continuing discussions with the Lord Lieutenant's Office to see if Her Majesty could make a visit." The T&A understands that as a fail-safe measure, the Council is trying to get the Duke of Edinburgh to come to City Hall as part of a tie-in visit to Bradford Grammar School to open its £4 million extensions.

Bradford Grammar School head teacher Stephen Davidson confirmed he was in contact with Buckingham Palace to arrange for the Duke to open its newly opened 6th form centre, music school and swimming pool in July.

He said: "As we have built these wonderful facilities and because Leeds-Bradford Airport is very good for the Royal flight, we hope that we can get a Royal visitor to open up our new buildings.

"Given that the Duke of Edinburgh opened our existing buildings up in 1949, we thought it would be appropriate that he come back as guest of honour in 2002 to open the new facilities.

"We know that we are being considered and everybody would love the privilege of a Royal visit."

The Duke came to Bradford on January 13, 1949, to open the new Bradford Grammar School in Keighley Road after it moved from its original site in Cheapside.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said anyone could ask the Queen to visit their area but most requests were received before Christmas and the Queen's engagements were already booked up until late August.