From her first official visit in 1949 as a young Princess, to her last visit – 67 years later – in 2016; Her Majesty The Queen was always given the warmest of welcomes by the people of Liverpool.
She officially opened Liverpool Cathedral, the Kingsway Tunnel and Alder Hey Hospital; she cheered on the horses at the Grand National and she greeted thousands of well-wishers from the balcony of the Town Hall, on numerous occasions.
Here, James O’Keefe, a Heritage Attendant at St George’s Hall, charts the milestone moments in the life of Her Majesty and our city.
21 April 1926
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is born. She is the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York
11 December 1936
Elizabeth becomes the heir presumptive when her father becomes King George VI
21 April 1942
On Princess Elizabeth’s sixteenth birthday she has her first public engagement: inspecting the Grenadier Guards
20 November 1947
A 21-year-old Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey
14 November 1948
Princess Elizabeth gives birth to her first child Prince Charles
29 March 1949
Princess Elizabeth’s first official visit to Liverpool.
Elizabeth and Philip visit the Dock Board’s boat Galatea which took them to the North End docks. The Princess opens the new deep-water lock.
Galatea bumps into the wall of the lock but Elizabeth is fine as she holds tightly onto the rail.
Elizabeth and Philip visit the Town Hall for lunch with the Lord Mayor Alderman Walter Thomas. After the lunch, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip come out on the balcony facing Castle St to greet the crowds that had gathered outside.
The Princess and Prince then went to visit Liverpool Cathedral unlocking the main door with a special key that was designed by the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The Prince then stencilled a pillar with the initials “E” and “P” in a ‘true-lovers’ knot’ (Illustrated London News 9 April 1949).
The crowds at the cathedral cheered so much that the royal couple were reportedly delayed ‘for nearly two hours en route to Preston’ (Illustrated London News)
