queen visits chesterfield

Glover: Queen's visit to Chesterfield in 1977

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The film is made up a of a series of shots that show the crowd developing on a street in Chesterfield as preparations are made for a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. It ends as the car carrying the Queen passes the camera person's vantage point.

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Remembering the Queen's visits to Derby in pictures

The Queen visit the city many times

• 12:18, 10 SEP 2022

Queen Elizabeth II died in the year of her Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of dedicated service to the throne, the longest serving monarch passed away surrounded by her family.

She served us all, and was never shy about meeting anyone, great or small. Archive photos from her many visits to Derbyshire show it.

The photos below show the Queen in Derby through the decades, from 1949 as a Princess to the 800th Royal Maundy ceremony just a few years ago. It’s clear from the pictures that enthusiasm for Her Majesty has not dimmed in Derby over the years.

READ MORE: Leave your tributes, memories and messages of condolence for the Queen

Her visit in 1949 one that left a mark on the city that lasts up to the modern day. It was the official opening of the Council House, and she can be seen with the Duke of Edinburgh, flanked by halberdiers and city officials. She’d be Queen just 4 years later.

Take a look at these pictures through the ages in the gallery below. And let us know your memories of the Queen in the comments .

The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh on the balcony of the Council House, 1977

On the balcony again in 1957 - "long may she reign".

Arriving at Derby station with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1957.

A warm welcome can be seen through the car windows in 1957.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1949, outside the Council House.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visiting Derby Cathedral for the 800th Royal Maundy ceremony.

A crowd of photographers and wellwishers look on in the background.

The Queen and her entourage pose with bouquets.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh tour Pride Park, 2002.

Joseph Bamford welcomes the Queen and Prince Philip to JCB in Rocester, 1995.

A Bath Street party for the coronation, all the way back in 1953.

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An Evening of Queen at Queen’s Park

Forthcoming Events

A night of legendary music is set to take over one of the most picturesque settings in Derbyshire, as An Evening of Queen comes to Chesterfield on Thursday 5th August.

The popular show returns for a one-night-only performance at Queen’s Park following a sell-out performance in Derby in 2019, as part of the  I Want to Break Free  tour.

A dazzling collection of performers from London’s West End, including former stars from the smash hit musical ‘We Will Rock You’, come together in the height of summer to present an incredible tribute to one of the world’s great rock bands.

Featuring dozens of hits from an astonishing back catalogue, this is a unique and stunning concert evening no Queen fan should miss.

A limited number of tickets are on sale now, priced at £25 for General Admission.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “The BRM Solicitors Chesterfield Festival of Cricket is one of the standout events in the calendar and after a challenging year, we’re delighted to be able to bring a night of musical entertainment to Chesterfield.

“The sold-out concert in 2019 in Derby was one of our most popular events and we’re looking forward to bringing the new tour to Queen’s Park.”

The popular Crooked Spire Tower Tours are another great reason to visit The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints.

Enjoy wonderful food and drink and lots of fun at the Great British Food Festival at Hardwick Hall.

Come and look at the stunning night sky as Chesterfield Observatory is open to the public. Take a look through the telescope and see what you can spot.

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Contact details:

• Call: 01332 388101
• Visit: cricket.derbyshireccc.com/2021/05/an-evening-of-queen-comes-to-chesterfield/
• Email: [email protected]

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History of Queen's Park

The following has been adapted from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.  

Historic development

Alderman T P Wood, Mayor of Chesterfield in 1886, proposed that land should be acquired by the Local Board for the creation of a public park to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, and to ameliorate the overcrowded conditions in the centre of the town (Wright 1992). Alderman Wood donated £500, and some £3500 was raised to purchase some 17 acres (about 7 hectares) known as Maynard's Meadows to the south of the town from E A J Maynard of West House, Chesterfield. The site was dedicated at a ceremony on 21 September 1887 which comprised a procession of industrial tableaux and the planting of a tree on the site of the park. Alderman Wood was created a Freeman of the Borough in November 1887, at which time money raised for a presentation silver casket was instead applied, at the Alderman's request, to the provision of a bandstand in Queen's Park. An additional 5 acres (about 2 hectares) were purchased for incorporation into the park in October 1889, the necessary funds being raised by a Ladies' Bazaar Committee. This acquisition completed the site of the original park, and in the same year the site was enclosed by a stone wall. Money subscribed for the purchase of the park did not provide for the laying out of the site for public use.

The Local Government Board expressed reservations about the original estimate of £3500 submitted in 1888, and agreement on a modified scheme costing £2500 was only reached in 1892. Implementation of this scheme, which had been drawn up by William Barron and Sons of Borrowash, Derbyshire, was funded by a mortgage raised with the Yorkshire Penny Bank. Queen's Park with its curvilinear walks which describe areas containing a lake, cricket pitch, and lawns or football pitch closely resembles the plan produced by William Barron and Sons for Victoria Park, Tipton, West Midlands in 1898-1901.

Official opening to World War I

Queen's Park was officially opened to the public on 2 August 1893 with the first Chesterfield Floral and Horticultural Society Show being held in the park. A cricket pitch constructed in 1893-18944 was inaugurated in May 1894, while the associated pavilion was constructed in 1898. Late 19th century park facilities included a bandstand, boating lake, cycle track and gymnasium; plans for public baths were not implemented. In 1901 a further 13 acres (about 5.5 hectares), separated from the original park by Boythorpe Avenue to the south, was acquired by the town as a memorial to Queen Victoria (d 1901). This land (outside the site here registered) was laid out as a recreation ground known as Queen's Park Annex. A statue of 'The Girl with the Stolen Rose' by a local sculptor, Herbert Lee, was presented to the park in 1909 and, in the years before the First World War, the park was used for regular fetes and events such as the Coronation parade in 1910.

Post-World War I

Following the First World War a tank was presented to the town and placed in the park in July 1919. A programme of renovations and improvements was undertaken in the early 1920s which included the construction of a new bandstand and the erection of a conservatory acquired from Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Plans for a refreshment pavilion were submitted by Clifford Bond and the Borough Surveyor in 1939.

World War II to modern day

During the Second World War the park was used by the local authority for events associated with the 'Holidays at Home' scheme, while in 1943 metal railings round the cricket pitch were removed for the war effort; the conservatory was converted to food production. A further programme of renovation was undertaken in the early 1950s, while the London, Midland and Scottish railway line which formed the northern boundary of the site closed in the mid 20th century. In the mid- and late-20th century, a sports centre was constructed within the park adjacent to its western boundary.

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See Photos of Queen Elizabeth's 1994 State Visit to Russia

The Queen's trip to Russia, which followed Boris Yeltsin's trip to the UK, is depicted in season five of The Crown .

Here, see all the photos of Queen Elizabeth's 1994 trip to Russia, as shown on The Crown :

This is not from the State Visit to Russia, rather this is when Yeltsin visited the UK two years prior. Pictured are Naina Yeltsin, President Boris Yeltsin, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.

State Visit, 1994

Queen Elizabeth is pictured arriving in Moscow, wearing a glamorous fur coat.

A close-up of the Queen and Prince Philip upon their arrival in Russia.

Throughout the trip, she was accompanied by Boris Yeltsin, who served as president of Russia from 1991 to 1999.

Queen Elizabeth was not the first British royal to visit Russia. In 1973, Prince Philip and Princess Anne attended a horse eventing competition in Kyiv, then part of the Soviet Union, and in 1994, Prince Charles visited Saint Petersburg.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed in the Kremlin as guests of Yletsin.

Here, the Queen and Yetsin are pictured at the Bolshoi theatre.

Queen Elizabeth met Patriarch Alexius II and mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov; they are pictured here outside Saint Basil's Cathedral.

"For Russia, this visit is the utmost recognition that our country is on the road to democracy," Yeltsin told reporters of the Queen's visit.

As The Crown shows, the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family was a reason why the Queen had yet to visit Russia. Her grandfather, King George V, was Nicholas's first cousin.

"You and I have spent most of our lives believing that this evening could never happen. I hope that you are as delighted as I am to be proved wrong," Queen Elizabeth said to Yeltsin at a state banquet.

The two toasted at the banquet.

Queen Elizabeth toured Moscow during her four day trip, including visiting the famous Red Square.

She also met Russian children.

There were more formal events during the trip, too; Queen Elizabeth and Yeltsin attended a ceremony at the Piskarevskoye cemetery, a WWII memorial in St. Petersburg.

During the trip, Prince Philip and the Queen hosted the Yeltsins on board the Royal Yacht Britannia for a banquet.

During her Christmas address two months later, Queen Elizabeth reflected, "I never thought it would be possible in my lifetime to join with the Patriarch of Moscow and his congregation in a service in that wonderful cathedral in the heart of the Moscow Kremlin."

Queen Elizabeth would not return to Russia; Prince Philip returned once more, in 1995, as president of the World Wildlife Fund.

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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Queen Camilla reveals 'fantastic' secret outing with her grandchildren

Her majesty has five grandkids.

The Queen recalled a "fantastic" secret outing to the theatre with her five grandchildren as she and the King stepped out on Wednesday.

Charles, 75, and Camilla, 76, were given a tour of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in central London, which has trained leading actors from Sir Anthony Hopkins to Imelda Staunton and Tom Hiddleston.

It marked the King and Queen's first major public visit since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a UK General Election on 4 July, as the royals have postponed any engagements "which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign".

Actor and former Rada student, Daniel Mays, spent around 12 months playing Nathan Detroit in the musical Guys And Dolls. He quizzed the Queen about taking her grandchildren to see the production at London’s Bridge Theatre, to which she replied: "It was fantastic."

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The Line of Duty star later added of Her Majesty: "She loved it and she took all her grandkids and they said they had the most incredible night."

He added: "I left about three months ago and towards the end of my run she came with all her grandkids, we were only told on the day there would be an important royal visit, so we were wondering who it was going to be."

He joked: "It's an immersive production and we were wondering if she was going to be in her seat or standing up. It's the longest thing and most exhausting thing I’ve ever been part of – but a great time."

The King was named as Rada's new patron earlier this month, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II who had been its figurehead for 70 years.

Who are Queen Camilla's grandchildren?

Camilla has five grandchildren from her two children – Tom Parker Bowles and Laure Lopes – whom she shares with her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.

Tom shares daughter Lola, 16, and son, Frederick, 14, while Laura has three children – Eliza, 16, and 14-year-old twins, Gus and Louis, with husband Harry.

Freddy, Gus and Louis all had starring roles as the Queen's Pages of Honour at the coronation in May 2023, while Eliza was one of Prince William and Kate Middleton's bridesmaids at their 2011 wedding. 

LISTEN: Why the Duke of Westminster's godson Prince George is not attending his wedding

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Inside Queen Camilla’s ‘Fantastic’ Secret Theater Outing With Her 5 Grandchildren: Details

Queen Camilla recently spent some quality time with her grandkids amid her husband King Charles III ’s ongoing cancer battle.

Camilla, 76, and Charles, 75, chatted with Cynthia Erivo , David Harewood and more actors while commemorating the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’s 120th anniversary during a visit on Wednesday, May 29. It was during the outing that Camilla shared a comment about seeing a performance of Guys and Dolls at London’s Bridge Theater with her grandkids.

“It was fantastic,” she reportedly told actor and RADA alum Daniel Mays , who formerly starred in the production, according to Hello! magazine .

Mays, 46, went on to share more details about Camilla’s night out, stating, “She loved it and she took all her grandkids and they said they had the most incredible night.” Mays also specified that the family saw the show “towards the end” of his run as Nathan Detroit “about three months ago.”

Related: Queen Camilla's Family Guide: Meet Her Ex-Husband, 2 Kids and More

“We were only told on the day there would be an important royal visit, so we were wondering who it was going to be,” he explained. “It’s an immersive production and we were wondering if she was going to be in the seat or standing up. It’s the longest thing and most exhausting thing I’ve ever been a part of — but a great time.”

Camilla shares five grandkids with her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles . Her son, Tom Parker Bowles , shares kids Lola, 16, and Frederick, 14, with his ex-wife, Sara Buys , while Camilla’s daughter, Laura Lopes , shares her daughter Eliza, 16, and twin boys Gus and Louis, 14, with her husband, Harry Lopes .

Camilla is also step-grandmother to Charles’ five grandchildren, whom he shares with his late ex-wife, Princess Diana . Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are parents to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 2.

Camilla’s biological grandkids have partaken in several royal events since she and Charles wed in 2005. Frederick, Gus and Louis all acted as some of her Pages of Honor during her and Charles’ May 2023 coronation . Eliza, meanwhile, acted as one of Kate’s bridesmaids during her and William’s 2011 nuptials.

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Related: Proud Grandpa! King Charles' Sweetest Moments With His Grandchildren

Earlier this year, Camilla made a funny remark about one of her two grandsons named Louis. “I have a Louis grandson … quite a handful ,” she quipped while visiting the Isle of Man in March, per Sky News .

While many assumed Camilla was referring to William, 41, and Kate’s youngest child— who is known for his candid reactions and making funny faces at public events — that was not the case. “Buckingham Palace has since clarified that the Queen’s referring to grandson Louis Lopes,” Hello! magazine added in a footnote to their original story about her comment.

It is unknown whether Camilla will be joined by George, Charlotte and Louis at next month’s Trooping the Colour as Kate, 42, continues to remain out of the public eye since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March. Due to Charles’ own cancer treatment, the monarch is expected to inspect U.K. military members via a carriage with Camilla rather than on horseback as he did at least year’s event. (Charles was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February and returned to public-facing royal duties last month.)

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King Charles and Queen Camilla Step Out in Show of Support for Her Queen's Companion's Late Husband

The King and Queen attended a memorial service for the husband of Lady Sarah Keswick, Sir Chippendale 'Chips' Keswick

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world's most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

• King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped out to in London for the memorial service of Sir Chips Keswick on May 30
• The couple paid their respects at the service honoring the late husband of Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen's Companions
• The event fell on the same day the palace confirmed the King will attend Trooping the Colour in June amid his cancer treatment

King Charles and Queen Camilla made a special outing to support a close friend.

On May 30, the King, 75, and Queen, 76, attended a memorial service for Sir Chips Keswick at St Paul's Church in London. He died at age 84 on April 17 and was the husband of Queen Camilla’s Queen’s Companion , Lady Sarah Keswick.

The royal couple arrived together, and King Charles spent time speaking to The Reverend Canon Alan Gyle. Sir Chips was the former chairman of Hambros Bank and Arsenal Football Club, which shared condolences following his death.

"Everyone at the Club is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sir Chips Keswick. Sir Chips' time at Arsenal spanned 15 years in which he served as both a board member and Chairman," the Premier League team wrote on X in April. "May he rest in peace."

His widow, Lady Sarah, was supported at the memorial service by fellow Queen’s Companions including Queen Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot , Jane von Westenholz and Fiona Shelburne. The four women are among the six friends that Queen Camila reportedly tapped as Queen’s Companions following her husband’s accession in September 2022. The Queen’s Companions are a modern spin on the ladies-in-waiting Queen Elizabeth relied on throughout her record reign, and the companion post is more informal with reduced responsibilities.

While ladies-in-waiting traditionally assisted with Queen Elizabeth’s correspondence and administration, the companions were slated to simply support Queen Camilla at official engagements, the BBC reported. Some of Camilla's friendships with the women stretch back decades, as evidenced by a photo of the future Queen with then- Prince Charles and Lady Sarah in 1979 that circulated amid the Queen’s Companion news.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty (2)

Queen Camilla’s ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles , was also photographed at the memorial service on May 30. Camilla and her first husband were married from 1973 to 1995 and share two children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes .

Tom, Laura and their families attended the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023, as did Andrew. Teen grandsons Gus, Louis and Freddy even acted as the Queen’s Pages of Honour.

The King and Queen stepped out for the memorial service on the same day that the palace announced the monarch will attend Trooping the Colour on June 15 and that the event will take place as usual ahead of the general election on July 4. Though the royals usually leave the public space ahead of elections to keep attention on the key issues on the ballot, it was determined that King Charles' birthday parade should go on as scheduled.

It was confirmed that the King will take the review from his spot in an Ascot Landau carriage beside Queen Camilla, marking a departure from his decision to horseback ride in his birthday parade last year. The update came a month after the sovereign resumed public-facing duties in late April after Buckingham Palace announced in February that he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment.

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The King continued to undertake state paperwork and host small audiences in the interim period, and his wife the Queen said he was " really thrilled to be out " following his first forward-facing engagement.

Next week, the King and Queen will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings at the U.K.’s national commemorative event with Prince William on June 5, and step out in Normandy, France, on June 6 for an anniversary service at the British Normandy Memorial. The visit is significant as the King’s first trip abroad following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis.