As Cornwall mourns and remembers Queen Elizabeth II, Chrissy Harris looks at Her Majesty’s close connection to our county.
It was described as a ‘never to be forgotten scene’. More than 2,000 feet of colourful bunting lining the crowd-filled streets that had been scrubbed so clean, ‘one could have eaten a meal from them’.
Newspaper reports from the Queen’s visit to Liskeard in 1956 give a sense of the anticipation and wonder that surround such a prestigious event.
Her Majesty enjoyed many trips to Cornwall during her 70-year-reign, each one helping to shine a light on the people and places that make up this very special part of the world.
Queen Elizabeth II seemed to feel very at home in the county. A quick look back over the years shows Her Majesty presenting awards at the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge in 2000, inspecting the lifeboats in St Ives in 2013 and joining in with a Big Lunch at the Eden Project during the G7 summit last year.
Each occasion – just like that early visit to Liskeard in 1956 – has been the result of months of preparation for what is often a once-in-a-lifetime encounter for many people.
During her Liskeard visit, the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh made the time to stop and talk to girl guides and Rangers, town and district councillors, and later on at Stoke Climsland, tenants of Duchy farms.
Reports from the time say all who met them praised the Queen and the Duke for their ‘dignified informality’ and their readiness to chat in “such an ordinary manner”.
It’s a feeling shared by many of the people lucky enough to have met Her Majesty over the years.
‘She makes people feel comfortable and immediately puts you at ease,’ says Chris Riddle, secretary of the Royal Cornwall Show. Chris has met the Queen twice during his role at the event, once when she visited in 1989 and then again in 2000.
‘There’s definitely an air of anticipation beforehand and it’s always very special. Cornwall is a particularly loyal county and people here appreciate the Royals’ time and interest,’ he added. Chris, who presented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with a special hamper, full of Cornish produce during the couple’s 1989 visit, said it was clear that Her Majesty was very ‘at home’ at events, such as the Royal Cornwall Show.
‘They are country people at heart,’ says Chris. ‘It’s a natural environment for them to be in.’
In May 2013, the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh made an historic trip to west Cornwall, visiting St Ives and Marazion, including St Michael’s Mount where they were guests of the St Aubyn family.
The Royal visitors enjoyed a trip on the tidal island’s amphibious vehicle, complete with a specially-made gang plank so that the Queen and the Duke could easily step straight off onto dry land.
Lady Mary St Aubyn says the day marked a real historical high point for St Michael’s Mount and the region.
‘The Queen was able to get a sense of Mount life and our community,’ says Lady St Aubyn, as she explains how the Royal guests enjoyed a visit to the island’s church, a meet and greet with the resident families and a lunch with 70 people from all over Cornwall. The Queen was then taken back down the Mount’s rugged pathway in a golf buggy, apparently remarking on the beautiful views.
‘We felt elated afterwards,’ says Lady St Aubyn. ‘We all felt that Her Majesty and Prince Phillip had very much enjoyed their day.’
‘The Queen just has this aura about her and this very genuine interest in whoever she meets, which is pretty incredible when you think that she goes to all of these places and sees so many people.
‘We felt very touched by her presence and the fact she had taken the time to come and see what we all do.’
As they were going to St Ives
The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh called in to St Ives during their 2013 visit.
Thousands of people turned out to greet the Royal couple, who arrived at St Erth railway station in the Diamond Jubilee royal train before heading to St Ives.
Here they met the town’s RNLI team during a visit to the lifeboat station.
Rob Cocking, the current RNLI Coxswain at St Ives has been part of the RNLI team in the town since 2003 following a long family tradition on the lifeboats. Rob was the station’s mechanic in 2013 when they welcomed Her Majesty.
‘It was a huge occasion for all our volunteers and their families to be meeting her and the Duke of Edinburgh,’ says Rob. ‘There was lots of polishing and preparation in the weeks before and a real buzz of excitement around us on the day.
‘They were with us for about 20 minutes, during which time we showed them round the lifeboats and introduced them to the volunteers. They were extremely interested in everything and it was great to be acknowledged for the time and commitment we all put into the RNLI and our community.’
A Special Big Lunch
Cornwall certainly knows how to put on a right royal show – expertly demonstrated only last year. The Queen and joined The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge to enjoy a Big Lunch at the Eden Project during the G7 summit, when the eyes of the world were on our county.
The Queen drew plenty of smiles and admiring glances as she cut a specially-made cake, using a sword, borrowed from Cornwall’s Lord-Lieutenant, Edward Bolitho.
Peter Stewart MVO Executive Board Director at Eden says the rather surreal moment gave a real insight into the monarch’s good humour.
‘She asked me: do you think I should do it? And I replied: Your Majesty, I can’t possibly really advise you on that..’ says Peter, adding how proud he is to have been able to host such an important event after the Queen had met world leaders at the G7 summit.
‘She had only met the President of the United States, half an hour before she came to us,’ says Peter. ‘What she does - and what is incredible – is that she gives everyone the same amount of respect and attention. She makes you feel so at ease.’
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