HM The Queen & HRH The Duchess of Sussex - Chester - June 2018

Sniffer Dogs making sure the crowds are safe

Police watch from the top of the Storyhouse Building

The Prses Pen Opposite us

Keir Simmons, a reporter for NBC News (formerly an ITN Reporter)

One of the MANY Long Lens Cameras seen that day!!

Close Up of The Queen's Brooch, one of Queen Victoria's Bow Brooches

Can you spot The Queen and Duchess in the throng of crowds!!!

Samantha Cohen, The Queen's outgoing Assistant Private Secretary who will work for the Sussex's for six months

Chester Town Hall

The Lord Mayor addresses the crowds

Unveiling the Plaque

When it was announced HM The Queen & HRH The Duchess of Sussex would team up for an away day to Cheshire the planning went into overdrive! And for the Royals too...……… 
For me it was like military manoeuvre in the planning!

This day was one where tens of thousands were expected to flock to Chester so to get a front place position it took a lot of determination and a 5am alarm clock!

Arriving into Chester city centre at 8am there were a few hardy souls who had already bagged their places and thankfully I was able to join them. But wait...……………… there were FOUR hours to go until the Royal arrival.

Itts always amazing how you find your spot to stand, and time passes slowly but surely, and yet out of nowhere the space you have guarded so diligently you end up being pushed up, and leant on from behind! With people managing to get next to you that weren't there before!! That's a royal visit for you.... Thankfully the part of the walkabout I was in had been closed off so there wasn't a crush, but I felt so sorry for the other side of the road where the Police had to go in and move people as it was a bottleneck congestion.

The Duchess of Sussex arrived with the Queen in her State Bentley just before Mid-day. There was to be a national two minute silence for the Grenfell Tower disaster at Mid-Day.

Approximately 50 minutes later the crowds started cheering. The longest lens camera I have seen in my life all directed at the Royal Ladies and reporters from the world holding up their TV Camera's & microphones. Yes, the walkabout was due to start.

 Even though we had been told we would get both Royals (I guessed Meghan would do one side and The Queen the other and after all these years of royal watching I was right. Experience and all that!!) I was correct. We had the Queen :-)

The Duchess was speedily taken past up to begin her walkabout to screams akin to a Pop Star welcome. She briefly turned round and cameras whirred madly!

As with all large scale events, the 'lean factor' came into use. That is everyone leans out and like a domino effect its a Mexican wave effect of heads and cameras. So you firstly see a glimpse of a hat, then the body, then face, until the Queen is in full view.

I noticed The Queen had tears at the sides of her eyes, well she had cataract surgery in May, and it was a typical English day for weather. Strong winds, freezing tempertures then as soon as she came in sight Sunshine!' Known as 'Queen's Weather' !!!

 'Its a certainly been a windy day for you today Your Majesty' I uttered. 'Yes' she replied, 'It was rather windy on the Bridge!' (The previous visit had been to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in Widnes. And then it was over. My now 5 hour wait in the same spot for a few seconds, but I would do it again! She was, and is an amazing lady and I would love to have her stamina!

She slowly wound her way down the crowds, glimpse of her hat for me as I now stood on my little folding step-stool! Meghan's walkabout had been a little quicker than her previous ones, but I think her staff were conscious not to keep The Queen waiting. So when the Queen caught up she hurried alongside her.

Rather than climb the steps of the Town Hall, the Royals went in the side doors, only to return into full view five minutes later for a 'Balcony' appearance, well a specially constructed Dais on the top of the town hall steps. There the Lord Mayor of Chester officially welcomed her to the City and she unveiled a plaque to loud cheers. It was a few waves to the crowd, and then off inside for a 
Civic Lunch in her honour.

Chester put on a great royal visit, the crowds turned out in their thousands, and we saw a new member of the Royal Family continue to blossom.

Me, I needed a sit down, food and water!!!!

All photographs Copyright of Paul Ratcliffe. NOT For reproduction anywhere!