THE Queen made a personal request to visit to a North Yorkshire toffee factory after she received a tin of its sweets at her Buckingham Palace home.

The Queen meets the cast of Aladdin at during rehearsals at Harrogate Theatre

Staff at Farrah's Toffee Factory, makers of Harrogate Toffee, said they received a message several months ago asking if the Queen could visit the factory during an official visit to the town yesterday.

She was given a 20-minute guided tour of the 158-year-old family-run business where she was given a demonstration of how the famous toffee is made by the traditional "boiling pan" method.

The Queen seemed fascinated by the procedure and repeatedly went back to look at how the toffee was setting in the pan.

Assistant partner of the business Peter Marston, who took over the company two years ago when the Queen was sent the toffees, said: "We were absolutely delighted when we heard she wanted to visit. It was a great honour for us."

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Harrogate Railway Station to a friendly welcome from a crowd of thousands.

The previous day's fog had disappeared and there was even a glimmer of blue sky as the royal party, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Sir Marcus Worsley, carried out engagements in the town.

The Queen, wearing a jade overcoat and matching hat, left the station and went on to officially reopen the Sun Pavilion in Harrogate's Valley Gardens.

She then went on a walkabout in the town centre where she was laden down with bouquets and flowers from the admiring public who braved the lunchtime rain to welcome her to Harrogate.

It was then on to Harrogate Theatre to watch a rehearsal for the town's pantomime, Aladdin. The Queen was introduced to the cast and given a guided tour behind stage before heading off to Harrogate District Hospital and later Farrah's Toffee Factory.

The Duke of Edinburgh was visiting the country's oldest chemist shop in Knaresborough town centre, as well as the town's Working Men's Club. He later went on to the Northern Police Convalescent Home where he was joined by the Queen for their final engagement.

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