Competition: share your memories of the Queen

24 yr old DS "What's all the flippin fuss about today, she's just an old lady who lives in a big house". not a royalist then eh son.

I do remember the street party we had to celebrate her Majesty's Coronation. I still have the photo of us kids, plus all the mums, waving our Union Jacks.

I often wonder what happened to all the children in the photo?

I saw her when she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Jersey for the Liberation celebrations. We waited hours for her arrival but it was well worth it.

I remember meeting her over 20 years ago, and was surprised how small she was!

I was six years old in 1953 and I can clearly remember standing at the side of the road in St Albans, waving a Union Jack flag, as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh drove past.

As an 8 year old, our class went on a school trip to London from the West Country to visit the Tower and Windsor Castle. At the end of the day we were waiting on the pavement outside the castle for our coach to arrive, when a beautiful black limousine drove slowly past with the Queen sitting in the back. I remember that she waved to us and I managed to take a photo with my trusty Brownie 127. I shall have to get those boxes of old photos down from the loft and try to find it..

I saw the Queen when she came to my town to launch HMS Invincible. I was 5 but remember it like it was yesterday. Afterwards I had to go back to school and paint a picture of the event and I remember my painting was a bright pink and blue ship and a grey Queen hahahaha

I remember, on the eve of her coronation, driving back from a visit to my great Aunt, seeing loads of people camping out to see her pass by en route to the ceremony.

She also visited HMS Ganges, at Shotley Gate, when my Dad was there, in the early 60s I think. (He was one of the Instructors in charge of the mast manning ceremony on the parade ground). My Mum had made me a drop waisted pale green 20s dress (how I loved that dress!), and we watched Her Majesty drive by. What a wonderful day that was.

I have great admiration for her.

We had been at the Pictures (cinema) in Stirling and when we came out there was a large crowd heading for the station so we followed to see what was happening. It transpired that the Queen and DofE had been at a reception in Stirling Castle and were about to depart on the Royal train.

Her Majesty and the Duke appeared at the open carriage window in full evening dress, complete with tiara, the Queen somewhat dwarfed by the Duke just behind her. There was a smattering of muted applause and cheering. Then the Queen half turned and looked up to her husband to make some remark. At this point my incorrigible Father's voice boomed out, echoing round the station. 'Look folks - it's Chic Murray and Maidie'. The crowd, recognising the similarity between the Queen's pose and that of Maidie when she spoke up to her tall husband Chic, roared with laughter, cheered and applauded. The Queen, quite oblivious to the cause of this outburst, acknowledged the cheers, which redoubled when she once again turned to speak to the Duke.

Although I have seen the Queen on several occasions since then, she has not mentioned this incident - neither have I (until today).

We saw Her Majesty the Queen during her Coronation Tour of the UK. She came along our road which overlooked the River Tay so there were no houses on the other side and we had a very good view and as we were only about seven in number we got a very special wave from her and the Duke.
I have been to a reception on Brittania moored in Muscat Harbour in Oman in the presence of the Prince of Wales and Diana and were able to meet and talk to them both. What a memory - the band of the Royal Marines marched and played on the quayside - there wasn't a dry eye in the place!

My mother, like the Queen, was in the ATS. Mum recalled being sent on a route march of 20 miles, following which the troops were told to line up, look smart and salute the then Princess Elizabeth as she was inspecting the parade. Mum wondered if the Princess could 'smell the sweat'!

The Queen visited the New Forest on the 500 anniversary. She walked through part of the forest and all the children gave her small bunches of violets.

I saw her again when her and the Duke of Edinburgh came to my daughters English/Portuguese school in Portugal to open the new Science Building. We all lined the playing field and the Duke stopped and asked the children which language they spoke to one another. Left the children a bit speechless as the spoke both and sometimes at the same time.

Fondest 'Queen' related memory (not including the live rendition of 'We Will Rock You'!!) was probably the 1977 Silver Jubilee event. Exemption from school lessons would always go down well, and to make it better, there was school parties, and pupils in our class were handed out commemorative silver oversize 50p souvenirs for free, which I still have to this day (the only time we ever received anything free from that school). And then, of course, was the trip to London, travelling on train (a real novelty in those days) for the parades. I think it was so busy that we turned back and went shopping instead, but hey, what can you do?

I recall the Queen's Coronation as I was only 7 years old and I was home ill and on the verge of being admitted to hospital to have a kidney removed. (Luckily I responded to treatment and recovered) I was unable to attend the street party because of this. I can remember having a compilation publication of the Daily Mirrors covering the Coronation a while later and looking at all the photographs displayed and admiring the Queen's beautiful dress.

I saw the Queen in 1953. I lived in Belsize Park then; we were given the day off school, and I remember sitting on the kerb as she drove by in an open topped car. I can remember saying to Mum "She looked at me and waved". Whether she did or not, I have no idea! I was 5 at the time.

I think the Queen only hung on to her throne (refusing to let Prince Charles have a go) so that she could she could get into the Guinness Book of Records.

I remember as a child for the silver jubillee the Queen visited out town - I stood away from all the crowds on the edge of a road - she rode by in her car - I waved - she waved back - I remember I was over the moon

I think I was around about 20 when the Queen came to Hartlepool. I worked on Panda Control in the local Police Station and my shift finished just before she arrived. I was disappointed on leaving the office when they said the Town Centre was packed along the route of people who had waited ages for the glimpse of the Queen.

However, I was smuggled past the crowds and placed in a phone box right by where she walked. I'll never forget it. She looked right at me... I am a huge supporter of our Royal Family, all of them. The Queen is a roll model to us all and I am so proud of her taking leading by example. I hope she reigns many more years yet.

When Her Majesty the Queen visited the Isle of Wight in 1965 (I think) I was working an afternoon shift in a Shanklin hotel. They were about to close the main road to traffic and my single decker bus was the last vehicle allowed through. I was the only one on it so I sat up front. To my embarrassment the streets were lined with people who were bored with waiting. They clapped, cheered and waved their flags as I drove by. I was a very shy teenager so it took a bit of cajoling from the driver -'Go on, luv. Give 'em a wave' - to get me to forget my red face and do the 'regal wave'

I remember the Queen coming to Norwich to open our Archive Centre. I work next door in County Hall. Everyone rushed to the windows to see her go in.

Like so many others I saw the Queen on her Silver jubilee tour. She started her tour of the area by arriving at our small railway station , about a 10 minute walk for us and the children had the day off school. Regular train users reported many days of seeing "men in suits " doing various checks on the station and car parks. I recall her being in an apricot outfit but little else, it was over in seconds.

Our whole school lined the route taken by the Queen through Highcliffe village when I was a small child. I dont remember being particularly excited about it - as I recall the car just passed us at normal speed - she certainly didnt wave at me!

I saw the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party. My place of work at the time, were allotted two tickets each year, and I was chosen that particular time. As it was also the year of my 60th birthday, it made it special. We were standing not too close, but managed a good view, and yes she is quite petite. The tea was also worth the visit, and I poshed up in my new dress and hat feeling quite a lady for once.