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British RoyalsQueen Elizabeth II

The Queen shops for a new hat as she tours renovated town centre

Her Majesty The Queen looked stunning in an aquamarine coat as she braced for the chilly temperatures yesterday.  She wore a matching hat with pink roses and carried her signature black bag with black gloves.

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The Queen was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire James Puxley before meeting Councillor Paul Bettison OBE and chief executive Timothy Wheadon. Mr Bettison told the crowds: “It’s fantastic. It’s amazing to welcome the Queen to the new town centre. Our residents are really proud of it, and our young people are really proud of it.” Her Majesty was welcomed by the Berkshire Maestros orchestra that played the hymns “Thine Be The Glory” and “Rule Britannia.”

Crowds of people lined The Avenue in Bracknell to watch Her Majesty unveil a commemorative plaque to celebrate the construction of The Lexicon. The Lexicon has been open for more than one year now and has already seen more than 16 million shoppers.

Her Majesty toured the £240 million makeover of the town centre of Bracknell, which saw the demolishment of post-war buildings and the creation of a social, shopping and cultural destination. Her Majesty toured the shopping centre and went into Fenwick when she spotted their display of multi-coloured hats. The hat buyer for Fenwick, Angela Basten, showed the Queen several of the creations on offer to customers. She included an unusual £895 hat by milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan, the same designer Her Majesty was wearing for the visit, and one made by Vivien Sheriff with goose feathers.

Ms Basten said: “We showed her the Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat and she commented on its unusual teardrop shape and said she’d never worn that shape.” She added: “When we were looking at the Vivien Sheriff hat she said it would have been good for the wedding because it wouldn’t have flown off – she was making reference to what a windy day it was.”