Video: A day for Milton Keynes to remember
Bathed in late autumn sunshine Milton Keynes has marked the visit of The Queen in right Royal fashion today.
In a breathtaking two hours tens of thousands of people saw Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh - and they saw just how far Milton Keynes has come in 40 years.
From their arrival at Central Milton Keynes Station at just after 11am they have been cheered by flag-waving crowds.
Any doubts that the Monarchy is unpopular was submerged beneath a sea of smiling faces and the weight of flags, flowers and gifts.
At thehub:mk some people had waited for more than an hour and a half to catch a glimpse while residents in flats and builders craned their necks to see their arrival in a gleaming Bentley at the entrance of the Ramada Encore Hotel.
There she met the great and the good of Milton Keynes and was shown a display of the city's past present and future and then met future Olympians and Paralympians from Milton Keynes.
She then made her way to the plaza where she enjoyed a musical medley from Indian Telugu dancers while looking at the interactive light sculptures.
During the walk she graciously received posies of flowers and talked with many revellers.
Her final duty at thehub:mk was to unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of the development.
Just before she left she had a long chat with celebrity chef Raymond Blanc.
Then it was off to stadium:mk
At the entrance she was greeted by Pete Winkelman to meet yet more local leading lights including MK Dons' manager Paul Ince and players.
In the stadium ballroom The Queen and Prince Philip toured demonstrations by a host of diverse voluntary and community groups with the Royal couple taking a keen interest in all of them.
Prince Philip's eye was caught by the MK Arm Wrestlers Federation and at the Interfaith MK stand the irrepressible Duke of Edinburgh asked Father Colin Griffith if he had tried to convert Pagan Carol Nowlan!
Her Majesty spent several minutes chatting to students from Sir Frank Markham School who had built a beautiful model of what will be Milton Keynes' first Academy.
The Royal Couple then returned to their car which drove around the stadium and up onto the pitch to a vast roar from the expectant crowd.
In the centre circle Dame Cleo Laine led the crowd in a rousing singing of the National Anthem – specially arranged by Sir John Dankworth.
They were seated at one end of the pitch with the Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Mike Barry and dignitaries at the other.
He welcomed Her Majesty and His Royal Highness and congratulated them on their recent Diamond Wedding Anniversary to more cheers but studiously called Milton Keynes a town rather than a city.
That was left to the hundreds of youngsters, clad in white who invaded the pitch and began telling of the story of Milton Keynes in word and song.
One of them said cheekily: "I wish someone would say we were a city!" Her Majesty showed a flicker of a smile.
Then after Her Majesty was invited to unveil the plaque officially opening stadium:mk a little girl, Ria Ince, daughter of Paul Ince approached carrying a red ballon.
She handed it to The Queen who symbolically released it into the blue sky.
Then it was time for them to leave and followed by a horde of skateboarders the Royal car slowly left the stadium to cheers and applause.
The final stop was the newly opened St John Ambulance Centre in Greenleys.
Children from St Mary Magdalene Primary School waved Union flags as they lined the road up to the centre as the Royal couple were chauffeured in.
Inside The Queen and Prince Philip were welcomed by Judy Wright, Chairman of the Council of the Order of St John in Buckinghamshire, before they were shown exhibits by the St John ambulance volunteers.
In the main hall The Queen, the Sovereign Head of the Order of St John, watched a first aid demonstration Steeple Claydon Badgers and looked impressed at the youngsters' medical expertise.
After unveiling a plaque, she and her husband were the first to sign the visitors' book.
A signed portrait of the Queen wearing the full order of the robes, now takes pride of place in the foyer of the centre.
After just 10 minutes in Greenleys, they were whisked to the Radcliffe School in Wolverton, where they were shuttled off by helicopter to Stowe School.
Did you meet the Queen and Prince Philip today? If so, please post your comments about the Royal Visit below.
strong>To purchase any of the photographs taken of the Royal visit by our staff photographers please go to www.photostoday.co.uk
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
