As the nation mourns the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the City of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) reflects on its special relationship with the country’s longest serving monarch.
Her Majesty The Queen visited Aberdeen many times and had a genuinely close relationship with the people of the Granite City. On 03 October 1944, the then 18-year-old Princess Elizabeth opened the extension to the Sailor’s Home, Mearns Street, Aberdeen.
This was the first official opening undertaken by Princess Elizabeth. Eight years later, following the death of her father she began her reign as Queen.
Throughout Her Majesty’s reign and accompanied by her husband His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Her Majesty visited Aberdeen many times including on each of her jubilee years.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen David Cameron said: “As Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is remembered across the world, we as Aberdonians look back with great fondness on the many occasions The Queen, often accompanied by her husband The Duke of Edinburgh visited Aberdeen.
“Whether it was as youngsters waving flags on a Jubilee occasion or having the pleasure of meeting her face-to-face at an official opening or simply catching a glimpse of her at the Aberdeen Highland Games, we all have a story to tell of an occasion of when we saw The Queen.”
03 October 1944
Princess Elizabeth performed her first opening ceremony when she opened Aberdeen Sailors' Home, Mearns Street, which had been reconstructed. Earlier in the day she accompanied the Queen to Torry Nursery School and Grandholm Mills.
13 August 1955
First official visit to Aberdeen since her accession.
Arrival by Royal Yacht Britannia, Broadford Works, Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children, South St Nicholas Church, Lunch at the Town House
27 June 1964
40,000 people lined the streets between the railway station and the Town House as the Queen visited Aberdeen at the end of the typhoid outbreak.
07 October 1970
The Queen returned to the Granite City in 1970 to Aberdeen Association of Social Service Voluntary Workers T/A VSA. During her visit to the city she officially opened Hazelhead Academy and enjoyed lunch at the Town House.
03 November 1976
The Queen formally begun the operation of the UK’s first oil pipeline. The 130-mile pipeline from Cruden Bay to Grangemouth had been built by British Petroleum (BP). The Queen inaugurated the flow of oil by pushing a gold-plated button in BP’s control centre at Dyce, Aberdeen. She was accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Prince Andrew.
Silver Jubilee – 1977
To celebrate her Silver Jubilee Her Majesty and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited Aberdeen on 20 May 1977. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh visited:
- Rosewell Old People’s Home.
- Seaforth Marine Headquarters and boarded an oil rig supply “Seaforth Conqueror” boat berthed at Aberdeen Harbour.
- Her Majesty officially opened Aberdeen District Council’s new Town House extension.
04 August 1982
The Queen accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne on a visit to Aberdeen Fish Market. During their visit they were presented with two boxes of fish for their Balmoral stay.
Golden Jubilee – 2002
The Queen’s Golden Jubilee saw The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh return to the Granite City to attend ‘Aberdeen – Our City’ Jubilee Celebration at the Duthie Park on 28 May 2002. The Royal couple also attend the Scottish Parliament sitting at King’s College, University of Aberdeen.
Diamond Jubilee – 2012
The Sovereign’s Diamond Jubilee saw Her Majesty and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh return to Aberdeen on 14 September 2012 to officially open the University of Aberdeen’s new Sir Duncan Rice Library and the re-developed Marischal College headquarters of Aberdeen City Council.
01 October 2013
Her Majesty and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh returned to Aberdeen for the officially opening of the Emergency Care Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the opening of The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, at the International School of Aberdeen.
29 September 2017
Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the Robertson Family Roof Garden at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary followed by a visit to a Sue Ryder neurological care centre in the city.