QUEEN OF THE COBBLES
Queen visits Coronation Street and pops into the Rovers Return
THE Queen is visiting the set of Coronation Street today - and even popped into the Rovers Return.
The Monarch dropped by the set of the world's longest-running soap, which is celebrating more than 60 years on our screen.
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Her Majesty, 95, was greeted by Sir Peter Bazelgette, Chairman of ITV, and John Whiston, Managing Director of Continuing Drama.
She met crew and cast before being escorted by Dame Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV, into the Rovers Return, at Media City in Manchester.
The Queen was all smiles as she cheered by wellwishers when she arrived for a 40-minute visit to the soap's Salford set this morning.
Stepping out of her limousine in a teal Angela Kelly outfit with matching hat, Her Majesty received a red-carpet royal reception.
REGAL RETURN
Stars from the long-running soap, including William Roache, 89, who plays Ken Barlow - and Barbara Knox, 87, who plays Rita Tanner, lined up to greet the monarch.
Sue Nicholls, 77, who played Audrey Roberts, and Helen Worth, 70 - better known as Gail Platt - were also on hand to welcome The Queen.
Roache told the Queen he had first seen her when she visited Jamaica in 1963, when he was serving as an officer with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He added: "Thank you so much for coming today."
Knox told the Queen when she first arrived: "Good morning, your majesty, you have brought the sunshine.
"You know you are like a ray of sunshine.
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"And you've given us all such a lift (with) you coming, thank you very very much indeed.
"We all absolutely adore you, the world adores you."
The Queen, who asked how they had managed to keep filming during the pandemic, replied: "It's really marvellous you've been able to carry on".
Roache replied to laughter: "Well, ma'am, you're the one who has carried on."
The Queen was seen inside the studio where the interior of the Rovers Return is filmed as she met members of the production team.
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Following her Coronation Street visit, the Queen is due to attend a later engagement in Manchester.
Today's trip was the first time the Queen had visited the Coronation Street set for almost 40 years.
On a previous royal visit in 1982, Prince Philip was offered a pint in the Rovers Return Inn.
The Queen and Philip visited the fictional town of Weatherfield while on a visit during her Diamond Jubilee tour.
They met some of the long-running soap's famous faces, who were dressed as their characters.
ROYALS' CORRIE VISITS
Julie Goodyear, who played barmaid Bet Lynch, is said to have told the Duke of Ediburgh: "I would pull a pint for you any time."
The Queen Mother was said to be a regular viewer of the show - while Prince Charles made a cameo appearance to celebrate the series's 40th birthday.
Her Majesty's trip to the TV set today comes after she visited the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
The Queen was joined by other members of the royal family on day five of the event in Berkshire.
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Last Friday, she met German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Windsor Castle.
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The Queen has put on a brave face while continuing her royal duties in what has been a challenging few months without Prince Philip.
The Duke of Edinburgh's death prompted an outpouring of grief from the royal family and the nation alike after he passed away at the age of 99 in April.
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