To celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday, we remember her royal visits to Colchester.

THE Queen has been a regular visitor to north Essex in the last 60 years – and has received a rapturous welcome on every occasion.

She first visited Colchester in June 1949 when she was still Princess Elizabeth.

She was in the town to inspect the 1st battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of which she was Colonel-in-Chief.

Her first official visit to Colchester as the Queen came in March 1958. She visited the town, along with Chelmsford and Harwich, on her way to Holland.

Crowds lined the route to see her and she was cheered by more than 100,000 well-wishers.

After the visit, a message was sent to the Lord Lieutenant of Essex to express her appreciation for the welcome, especially from the children.

The letter said: “Her Majesty will not easily forget the warm send-off which the people of Essex gave her as she left England to visit Holland.”

In April 1963, she visited Chelmsford Cathedral with the Duke of Edinburgh to present annual Easter Maundy Money.

She presented purses to 37 men and 37 women – one for every year of her life.

Her next visit to north Essex was in May 1971 when she travelled to Chelmsford by train and was greeted there by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.

From there, she was driven by car to Maldon for the 800th anniversary celebrations of the borough charter being granted by Henry II.

She then had a tour of the countryside driving to Witham, Braintree and Sible Hedingham.

In June 1978, the Queen was a visitor at the Essex Show and spent four hours enjoying the entertaiment.

In May 1981, she made a private visit to Harwich. She was there to board the Royal yacht Britannia for a state visit to Norway.

However, she thrilled the 500-strong crowd which had gathered at Parkeston Quay by doing an unofficial walkabout.

Delighted crowds welcomed the Queen to Colchester in May 1985. She visited the University of Essex and saw a library book exhibition and telecommunications building before going to lunch at Colchester Town Hall where she was served by catering students from Colchester Institute.

She appeared on the balcony to the delight of the crowds and collected posies as she walked along Colchester High Street.

Crowds of people six deep cheered as she drove away in a glass-topped Rolls Royce.

The Queen then officially opened Colchester General Hospital in Turner Road.

The Queen was at Stansted Airport in October 1991 for the opening of the new terminal and in June 1995 visited Anglia Polytechnic to open its new £11million Rivermead campus.

Harwich was decorated in Union flags as the Queen and Prince Philip visited the town in 2004 to endorse Charter 400 celebrations.

She visited went to the Guildhall and toured the Mayflower exhibition and visitor centre at Ha’penny Pier, saw Trinity House, the 1912 Centre and the Electric Palace cinema.

She then delighted crowds in Colchester with a walkabout before enjoying lunch in the Town Hall.

Afterwards, she went to the University of Essex to unveil a commemorative plaque to mark its 40th anniversary.

Her most recent trip to north Essex saw the Queen visit the Maldon Salt Crystal Company in October 2010, when she was shown the salt production process and met members of the family which has run the company for four generations.

She also visited the Tiptree factory during the trip looking at the production line which produces preserves under royal warrant.

The special visit marked the 125th anniversary of jam production in the village and the Queen spoke to current staff and retired employees.

Ian Thurgood, director of Wilkin and Sons, added: “Her Majesty’s visit had a huge impact on the staff and more than a year on at Tiptree, they are still talking about the day the Queen same to see the jam factory.

“The Royal visit was something staff will be able to reflect upon for years to come.

“Her Majesty spoke to so many of the people who are responsible for the success of Wilkin and Son.”