In 1971, the Queen visited York for the city’s 1900th birthday. In April this year, she will be back – for the York 800 celebrations.
You might wonder quite how the city has managed to become 1,100 years younger in the 41 years since that earlier visit. Of course it hasn’t.
The 1971 visit commemorated 1900 years since the founding of the Roman city of Eboracum in 71 AD. This year’s visit comes as part of the celebrations to commemorate 800 years since York got its city charter. Two quite different milestones in the life of this ancient capital.
One thing will remain the same, however. When she arrives in York on April 5 this year, ahead of the Maundy Thursday service at York Minster, the Queen will come through Micklegate Bar, just as she always has done – and just as the ruling monarch has traditionally done for centuries.
To get you in the mood, we have a selection of photographs from visits Her Majesty has made to York down the years. She and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, have come a number of times – and each time the city has turned out in force to welcome them.
Two of our photographs are from that 1971 visit. They show the Queen and Prince Philip arriving at Micklegate Bar in a horse-drawn carriage – with crowds lining the street and every available roof space to greet them.
Fast forward six years, and the Queen was back for the Silver Jubilee. Our photo shows her in a stylish coat and hat, greeting a young admirer in Micklegate.
In 1983, she returned again: looking a little older, but smiling just as warmly as she greeted the crowds.
By the time of her 2000 visit, she arrived at Micklegate Bar in a royal limousine: but stepped from it to make her traditional entrance into the city on foot.
Her visit took her to the Yorkshire Museum among other places – and a dinosaur exhibition captured amusingly but affectionately on film by photographer John Giles.
Did you meet the Queen on one of her earlier visits to York? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Contact Stephen Lewis at Stephen.lewis@thepress.co.uk, or write to him at The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN
At the Yorkshire Museum dinosaur exhibition in 2000
The monarch is seen entering the city through Micklegate Bar in 2000
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel