Royal Visit

Playing host to rock royalty is par for the course for the Civic Hall, but in the 1960s it also opened its doors to the real thing.
Queen Elizabeth II stopped off for lunch at the hall in May 1962 as part of a short tour of the Midlands.

She travelled to Wolverhampton on May 24, starting her day with a visit to Molineux to present colours to military units including the Staffordshire Yeomanry, along with the North and South Staffs regiments.

More than 30,000 well-wishers packed into the stadium to see the young Queen inspect the troops.

Her Majesty was then taken to the Civic Hall for lunch with local dignitaries. Preparations for the high-profile visit had been made in fine detail – including notes on what to wear for invitees.

Gentlemen were advised to wear “uniform or dark lounge suits. Afternoon dress with hats and gloves for ladies. Medals should only be worn with uniform.”

The presentee will bow or, if a lady, curtsey, and will take Her Majesty's hand if offered.

Diners at the top table included local MPs, Wolverhampton's mayor and mayoress and members of the clergy and armed forces.

They were again under strict instruction when being presented to the royal visitor, with a list of guidelines including: “Each presentee will then move across the front of the Mayor (who will announce the name) and stop in front of Her Majesty.

“The presentee will bow or, if a lady, curtsey, and will take Her Majesty's hand if offered.”

Lunch was a suitably regal affair with smoked salmon, chicken and ham followed by strawberries Mont Blanc (a cream and meringue dessert) and cheese – all washed down with a selection of fine wines, sherry and port.

It may well have been a welcome break for the Queen who had started her day in Wolverhampton at around 10am, stepping off the royal train at Wolverhampton's Low Level Station.

She was met by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Harold Wallace-Copland and Alderman Henry Birch before being driven through the packed streets to Molineux for the military presentation.

Reports at the time said Her Majesty apologised for damaging the pitch with her high heels as she arrived at the event.

After the National Anthem was played, she inspected a parade of North and South Staffordshire Regiments before making her way onto a specially constructed stage complete with red carpet to watch the rest of the pageant.

Following her lunch, the Queen visited Wolverhampton Grammar School to mark its 450th anniversary then travelled to Wednesfield and Walsall.