Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Meghan cheered on first joint royal trip

By Phil Noble

 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, arrive in Runcorn, June 14, 2018. Peter Byrne/Pool via Reuters

 

CHESTER, England (Reuters) - Thousands of cheering fans greeted Queen Elizabeth and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on Thursday as Britain's newest royal joined the monarch for a visit to the English county of Cheshire, her first official trip without Prince Harry.

 

Meghan, who married the monarch's grandson in a glittering ceremony at Windsor Castle last month, travelled with the queen by the Royal Train to northwest England for a day of events.

 

The 36-year-old former American actress and star of the TV drama "Suits" wore a slim-fitting Givenchy cream dress, caped at the shoulders and belted at the waist. The famed French couture house's British designer made her wedding dress.

 

The queen, 92, sported a lime green ensemble. Green is the colour adopted by survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in London exactly a year ago and both royals, heads slightly bowed, observed a national silence in honour of the 71 victims.

 

Elizabeth, the world's longest-reigning and oldest monarch who has carried out thousands of engagements during her 66-year reign, appeared at ease with the newest member of the Windsors.

 

The pair were pictured smiling and laughing as they opened the Mersey Gateway Bridge, a new toll bridge over the River Mersey and one of the UK's biggest infrastructure projects in recent years.

 

They then headed to Chester, an ancient Roman city near the Welsh border, where they opened the Storyhouse, a library, theatre and cinema complex. Throughout the day, they were greeted by large crowds waving Union flags and cheering.

 

Perhaps indicative of how she is learning the royal ropes, at one point Meghan appeared confused over who should enter the royal car first and resorted to asking the queen what her preference would be. Meghan then climbed in first.

 

(Reporting by Phil Noble; writing by Michael Holden and Costas Pitas; Editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-15

Chester? Don't they have a welfare state benefits office nearer to home?

Got to admit it, but the Queen looks great for being 92 years old. 

 

As a boy I never thought she would out live me. But now I am not so sure.  

Great stuff! Cheered me up no end!

3 hours ago, GOLDBUGGY said:

Got to admit it, but the Queen looks great for being 92 years old. 

 

As a boy I never thought she would out live me. But now I am not so sure.  

 

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

Great stuff! Cheered me up no end!

What I thought was fantastic was that the old dear really had a sparkle in her eye, she was really having fun. Markle brought the sparkle. Seems HM has really taken to the young lady. For once can we all just bask and feel relief and goodness in some nice news. I am with you Grouse.