Category Archives: Royalty

Royal Visit to Midlothian 1961

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Queen Elizabeth II at Bonnyrigg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midlothian Local Studies holds two albums of photographs covering the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Midlothian on 29 June 1961. One of these was compiled by the local police force.

Queen Elizabeth II at Dalkeith

 

 

In beautiful summer weather, the Royal visitors had a full and hectic day. They made their first stop at Danderhall School and then to Dalkeith where they were welcomed by the local provost.

The next halt was at Bonnyrigg carpet factory and then to Newbattle Abbey where they were entertained to lunch by Midlothian County Council.

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon, the Royal party passed through Newtongrange and Gorebridge before heading toTemple where they were shown a new housing estate. When entering one of the houses, the Queen was ‘shot’ by the five-year-old daughter of the house, much to her mother’s dismay but to the Queen’s amusement.

From Temple, the route continued to Penicuik where the Queen planted a tree to commemorate her visit. Then it was onto to Rosslyn Chapel which so intrigued the visitors that they stayed longer than expected and almost wrecked the day’s schedule. Several Royal visitors had stopped at the enigmatic chapel before, such as King George V in 1931.

Queen Elizabeth II at Penicuik

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queen Elizabeth II at Loanhead Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally the party went to Loanhead where the Queen unveiled a memorial in the local park and visited Mactaggart Scotts engineering works. The whole day went almost without a hitch. Preparations had been made for weeks in advance. It was said that anybody who stood still for a couple of seconds was likely to be freshly painted.