On the Monday 29th of June 1953, her Majesty the Queen was on a tour of Lanarkshire and on that sunny day, she visited Hamilton. Golden sunshine poured down like a benediction upon Her Majesty, the Queen. Radiant beside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, as she travelled through Lanarkshire that Monday in a gleaming, open car bearing the Royal Standard.
From Lanark, where she inspired a guard of honor provided by the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and paid a brief visit to the royal burgh’s civic centre, Her Majesty rode by Carluke and Wishaw to Hamilton along an almost continuous avenue of spectators. There was cheering all the way.
When the royal party left Lanark they were ahead of the scheduled time, but as they passed the Law hospital, where many patients waited, some popped up in beds placed near the roadside, the Queen instructed her driver to go slowly. They crawled past the Law hospital and wherever there were school children, they moved very slowly, so that all could have a glimpse of Her Majesty.
Hamilton had given the Royal couple it’s “biggest, brightest and cheeriest.” Reception. Amusingly the proceeding police cars were ‘booed’ by the school children, but when the Queen and Duke came along, what an ovation they received.
At Hamilton’s Municipal Buildings, which the Queen and her entourage reached about 10 minutes behind scheduled time, the roar of the acclamation reached its zenith as the Royal couple stepped from their car to be received by Major J. B. L. Monteith, Vice-Lieutenant of the County.
Before entering the building, Major Monteith presented Provost Mrs Mary S. Ewart; Mr. John Mann, Convener R. St. G. T. Ransome, Commander of the Scottish Beach Brigade (T.A.)
When the Queen and her husband passed through the main doorway of the bravely decorated Cadzow Street building, opened on May 9, 1914, by King George V, they were accompanied by the provost and county convener. In a following group were the Vice-Lieutenant of the county, the right Hon. James Stuart Secretary of state for Scotland; the Lady Alice Egerton, Lady in waiting; Sir Alan Lascelles, the Queen’s private secretary; Major Edward Ford, assistant private secretary; and Captain the Viscount Althorp, equerry-in-waiting.
The appearance of the Royal couple in the doorway of the lecture room of the public library was the signal for a spontaneous burst of applause from the assembled guests, numbering over 160.
Her Majesty, who smilingly acknowledged the welcome, wore a state-grey silk coat over a green dress shot with silver. A neat little green feathered hat adorned her head. Her shoes, gloves, and handbag were black. A necklace of pearls encircled her throat and on her ears were pearl earrings. Pinned to her coat was a diamond brooch in the shape of a bow. A pace behind the Queen as she entered came through the Duke of Edinburgh, wearing a dark, pin-striped suit.
First to present to be presented to the Royal visitors by the provist was the Town Clerk. Then in turn, Mrs Ewart introduced Mrs Kelly, Ballie and Mrs James Mackie Mackie, Baillie Mrs Elizabeth MacDougall, Baillie and Mrs Gavin Cockburn.
Were you one of the people in the crowd? Can you remember that bright Monday afternoon? Share your memories with us.
Written by Garry McCallum – Historic Hamilton.
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I was there with Glenlee Primary School Burnbank.
I remember being opposite the veranda the Queen and Prince Philip were on .
I was 8 years old .