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Royal visits to Birmingham

Members of the Royal Family have made visits to Villa Park and such visits have become increasingly regular as Prince William and his son George are fans of the club. The first photograph was taken in 1951, when our late Queen (the then, Princess Elizabeth) arrived to watch a physical recreation display by local children. The second and third were taken in 2018 and 2023.

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Pictures of the Royal Visit in April1941 from the Birmingham Gazette.

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Everywhere she went the Queen had a smile for war workers. On the left she is inspecting Wolverhampton A.F.S. women in Calthorpe Park. They told her they did not find the work too heavy.

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On the right the Royal car is leaving the park amid the cheers of girl guides.
Hi Pedrocut, My Father was in the AFS line up being inspected by the King at Calthorpe Park in April 1941. A close up picture of the King talking to my Father as I remember it hanging on the living room when I was a kid has been lost and I'd love to see a copy as I have been searching for it for sometime. Have you come across such a picture?received_1040961079969057.jpeg
 
Reading these notices about Prince Albert's visit to Birmingham (from Birmingham Mail 18/7/1891) gives a glimpse of some of the actions taken for their arrival. Christ Church was selling seats on a platform in the churchyard. The Midland Hotel offered viewing seats and a first class luncheon.The Grand Hotel offered similar. A covered seating area was available by the Law Courts. All were claiming the best view of the Royal party and charging for the privilege.

The Regimental orders are interesting - no leggings and only one pouch at the back !

All the public places, museums, libraries, cemeteries etc seem to have been closed. Banks opened from 9.00 - 11.00 am then closed for the visit.

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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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I remember seeing the Queen drive past on her way to Shard End, I stood by the roadside in Bucklands End with my flag must have been mid 50’s, when I was in my late teens and worked at the council house in brum if anybody of any clout was visiting we were given extended lunch breaks so as not to be seen, spent many hours shopping or visiting the ,now what was it called, ( Cartoon cinema or something like ), Happy days
Hi I lived in Bucklands End and went to Byng Kenrick Grammar school. I recall the Queen visiting and we stood outside in the freezing cold waiting for her to pass. We were told when she passed to take off our school hats and wave them. The shout went up that she was coming and to wave our hats. The girl in front of me got super excited and waved her hat frantically, it hit me in the eye. It really hurt and I grabbed my eye, by the time it stopped watering the Queen had passed by. Recall it like yesterday!
 
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