Crowds turn out for royal visit

THOUSANDS of royal fans lined the streets of Manchester and Salford as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a variety of engagements, writes Joe Turner.

The royal party arrived at Victoria Station at 10.30am where Her Majesty and Prince Philip were greeted by hundreds of cheering spectators.

The Queen, dressed in a pink Angela Kelly dress, stepped off the train and spoke to dignitaries before greeting the waiting crowds.

They then moved on to the Eye Hospital on Oxford Road for 10.45am where the Queen was opening a new £500-million refurbishment of Central Manchester hospitals.

The entrance, complete with red carpet, was lined with union jack flags. Excited staff and students congregated on the Boulevard running through the centre of the hospital site. She then cut the ribbon to officially open the hospital.

After being greeted by staff and patients at the hospital she heard a specially-commissioned composition by the Royal Northern College of Music.

The royal couple then headed to Salford Quays where the Queen formally opened MediaCityUK while the Duke of Edinburgh opened the University of Salford's new digital media building, next to BBC studios.

Crowds gathered at the piazza outside the studios and at the green in front of University’s new campus.

Jane Leah, 35 was excited to see the Queen. She said: "I'm not usually a fan of the royals in general but all that changed when Wills and Kate got married.

“The royal jubilee is a once in a lifetime opportunity for my generation, we'll probably be having a street party"

John Coles, 48 said: "I think the visit from the royals is so fantastic. I work for MRI so I'm just disappointed I couldn't see her there!"

The Queen and Prince Philip then moved on to Manchester Town Hall where a jubilee feast took place with local community workers and volunteers.

After viewing Albert Square’s jubilee garden – painstakingly planted by local volunteers over the last few days – the royals arrived at Manchester Central Conference Hall where 1000 community heroes showed off the cream of the city’s talent at a special urban garden party.

Watch our coverage of how the day unfolded.