THE Queen has visited Chester and Cheshire as part of her official duties many times in the past.

In May 1972 the Queen visited Congleton, Crewe and Runcorn.

And in 1975, she attended the wedding of The Duke of Westminster's sister, Lady Leonora Grosvenor, to Lord Lichfield at Chester Cathedral. The choir formed a rank of honour at the Great West Door as the Queen passed through. She made a detour at the end of the service to speak to a young cathedral chorister who was in a wheelchair following an operation for appendicitis.

The Queen joined her sister and mother later that day for a private wedding reception at the Duke of Westminster's estate near Eccleston.

In November 1979 the Queen attended a service at Chester Cathedral to celebrate 1,900 years since the founding of the City of Chester. During her stay, she also visited Mollington, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and Warrington.

Subsequently she wrote to thank the dean and chapter and praised the choir and Roger Fisher, then organist and master of choristers, for the quality of the music.

In April 1992, the Queen handed out Maundy money during a service at Chester Cathedral as well as conferring Lord Mayor status on the city. A recipient of Maundy money was Edna Minns, widow of the first rector of Blacon.

In June 1995, the Queen visited Duchy lands at Crewe, and in July 1998, Her Majesty visited Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and Warrington.