Queen Elizabeth II, list of visits to Hertfordshire

Queen Elizabeth II is often known in the county as “Queen of Herts”, and she has visited Hertfordshire in every decade of her reign. 

• July 1952 visit to St Albans Cathedral, first visit to Herts since accession, first visiting St Barnabas Church, in Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead for the laying of the foundation stone, then St Albans Cathedral where she was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the Honourable David Bowes Lyon (her uncle), then royal car took route which went through Sandridge, Wheathampstead and Gustardwod to St Paul’s Walden (seat of Bowes Lyon family).
• 1954 opened new hangar at Salisbury Hall where De Haviland Mosquito had been developed
• 1957 to St Albans Cathedral for distribution of Royal Maunday money first time for this ceremony outside London
• 1959 North Mymns Royal Veterinary College
• April 1959 opening Stevenage New Town centre and named the New Town’s main shopping area Queensway.  Her Majesty’s am visit included inspection of Guard of Honour from 1^st Battalion of Hertfordshire regiment, pm included English Electric Aviation Ltd, Fleming Radio Development Ltd and Bedwell community centre
• 1963 Welwyn Garden City (first visit to WGC since accession) to open and name Queen Elizabeth II hospital, accompanied by Minister of Health, Enoch Powell
• 11 December 1981 Visit by the Queen to Parmiter’s School, Garston, Watford, laying the foundation stone
• 8 July 1982 opening New Chapter house at St Albans Cathedral with Duke of Edinburgh
• 1982 Queen Elizabeth II opens Norths Herts Leisure Centre ,  Letchworth Garden City
•  July 1993 visited Harpenden for 150^th anniversary of Rothamsted Experimental Laboratories
• 30 July 1993, Queen Elizabeth II visited Letchworth Garden City for the opening of sheltered housing at Tabor Court and new houses around Beech Hill
• 6 August 1993  opening QEII Hospital’s Queen’s Wing day surgery unit, Welwyn Garden City
• 14 March 2003 Her Majesty visited Stevenage Leisure Centre and officially opened the Stevenage campus of North Hertfordshire College
• 30 October 2003 Queen opens a new centre at the Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield.
• June 2012 Diamond Jubilee tour visit to Hitchin, Stevenage and Hatfield House and planted tree in Hatfield Park
• 6 May 2016 to Berkhamsted School to celebrate their 450^th anniversary. Before departing Her Majesty unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit, closing the day’s celebrations.

in addition to public visits, the Queen has made private visits to the Bowes Lyon family home at St Paul’s Waldenbury and to the Cecil family at Hatfield House