Buckingham Palace

6th November, 2009

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh today visited Tyne and Wear and were received on arrival this morning at Sunderland Stadium of Light Station by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant (Mr Nigel Sherlock).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove to Washington School, Spout Lane, Washington, and were received by the Headteacher (Mr Michael O’Brien), Mrs Dorothy Butler (Chairman of Governors) and the Mayor of the City of Sunderland (Councillor Dennis Richardson).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh toured the School and Her Majesty subsequently unveiled a plaque to officially open the School.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh afterwards visited Newcastle upon Tyne and walked through Northumberland Street.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness visited Newcastle City Library, Charles Avison Building, 33 New Bridge Street West, and were received by the Lord Mayor of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne (Councillor Michael Cookson) and Mr Anthony Durcan (Head of Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning, Newcastle City Council).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh toured the Library and Her Majesty subsequently unveiled a plaque to officially open the Library.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon visited the Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, and were received by the Chairman of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (Councillor Ged Bell) and Mrs Olivia Grant (Chairman, Council of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness toured the galleries and were subsequently entertained to Luncheon by the Lord Mayor of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (Professor Christopher Brink).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh afterwards viewed specialist items from the Museum’s collection of Greek and Etruscan art and met children from Woodlawn Special Needs School, and Her Majesty unveiled a plaque to officially open the Museum.

By command of The Queen, Mr Charles Gray (Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) called upon His Excellency Mr Roberto Avila at 8 Dorset Square, London NW1, this morning in order to bid farewell to His Excellency upon relinquishing his appointment as Ambassador from the Republic of El Salvador to the Court of St James’s.