The Queen has paid a visit to the famous cobbles of Weatherfield to mark the soap’s sixtieth anniversary. Her trip to Coronation Street came at the end of a busy week which has seen a number of engagements and video audiences for Her Majesty.
The ITV studios, based at Media City in Salford Quays, welcomed Her Majesty with flags and a red carpet laid out over the cobbles. During a guided tour of the ITV studios and set, she met with a number of the show’s cast and crew before a visit to the heart of the street, the Rovers Return.
Four of the soap’s longest serving cast members greeted The Queen on her arrival. Bill Roache, otherwise known as Ken Barlow, Barbara Knox who plays Rita, Sue Nicholls who plays Audrey and Helen Worth who plays the role of Gail, met their royal guest in front of the famous fictional pub.
Her Majesty asked the cast how they had managed to carry on filming the soap during the coronavirus pandemic, saying: “It’s really marvellous you’ve been able to carry on.” To which Bill Roache replied: “Well, ma’am, you’re the one who has carried on.”
Another cast member, Kate Spencer, known to the shows viewers as Grace Vickers, told The Queen of the difficulties of walking on the cobbles, saying: “Hard to walk on, as well, in heels.”
To which the Queen replied: “No, I know. I’ve been told. Probably better not.”
This isn’t The Queen’s first visit to Coronation Street. Back in 1982, when the show was based at Granada studios, she also spent time on the set. During her visit, the Queen was interested to find out that the streets cobbles are actually the original ones, which were transferred to Salford from the first set.
Later in the day, the Queen also paid a visit to Manchester Cathedral to mark yet another significant milestone as this year is the Collegiate Church of Manchester’s 600th anniversary. It became what we now know as Manchester Cathedral in 1847.
To mark this special occasion, the Queen met with a number of the city’s community groups and was later treated to a musical performance of Queen’s hits by the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus.
The week has also seen Her Majesty hold virtual audiences to receive the letters of credence of the new ambassadors to the UK from China, Iran and Israel. The Queen also received the Letters of Commission for the new High Commissioner of Ghana in a virtual audience.
The week began with The Queen awarding the George Cross, the highest civilian medal for bravery, to the National Health Service.
