Following the tragic news of the Queen’s passing today, we look back to when she visited our area.

May 9, 1956 was for many, a day like every other however, for the people of Launceston it would be one they would be unlikely to forget.

By that point Queen Elizabeth II was nearly three years into her reign, one which would become the second longest in all of history, however, on that sunny spring day, she and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip would make the trip from their home in London to visit Launceston.

The royal pair arrived at Guildhall Square at 5:40pm where they were welcomed by a Guard of Honour, performed by the Cornwall Air Cadet Force.

Following the performance, Her Royal Highness signed a visitors book outside Launceston Town hall, using the same pen her father, King George VI had used.

But alas, the life of a royal is a busy and at 6pm Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh left Launceston Station to return to London.

Elizabeth Windsor, served the United Kingdom for 70 years, she has seen 15 Prime Ministers, 18 Olympic Games, one English World Cup and 12 men on the moon. But through all of this, she has been the glue holding the country together, touching us all, far and wide and reaching out, just as she did in Launceston in 1956, showing her appreciation for people and causes across the nation.