On May 16, 1983, the Queen visited York to officially welcome home the men of the 2nd Infantry Division on their return to their headquarters at Imphal Barracks.

The division had been serving abroad for 41 years. The Queen also took part in a parade to honour the 75th anniversary of the Territorial Army.

“York Welcomes Queen’ ran the headline in the Yorkshire Evening Press that day.

“Blue skies, sparkling sunshine and excited crowds greeted the Queen when she arrived in York today,” the newspaper reported. “After a safe landing at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, she drove into the city to find that months of clouds and rain had disappeared and welcoming crowds were Basking in a truly Royal summer’s day.”

The Queen was greeted at Micklegate Bar as usual, by the Lord Mayor Coun Philip Booth – his last official event before being replaced the following day by a new Lord Mayor, one Coun Steve Galloway.

After passing underneath the Bar the Queen strolled down Micklegate. Among those waiting to see her was 54-year-old Mrs Nan Knowles, from Nunnery Lane, who had taken up her position at 5am. “Every time she comes, I’m here,” Mrs Knowles said. “Anything to do with Royalty I think is just wonderful.”

At Trinity Lane, the Queen was met by the Royal car, which whisked her off to Imphal Barracks. On a parade ground “where marching boots have echoed for more than a century”, noted the Evening Press, she then inspected 1,000 men to the accompaniment of a 21-gun salute.

She was also saluted by a flypast of RAF Harrier jump-jets and RAF and Army Air Corps helicopters.

By 4.30pm, crowds had gathered to watch the Queen leave the barracks. Her route back to Linton-on-Ouse took her via Fulford Road, Cemetery Road, Foss Islands Road, Lord Mayor’s Walk, Gillygate, Bootham and then the A19.