Leave site
Skip to content

Avon and Somerset Police remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Smiling Queen Elizabeth II gets up close to a police horse

During Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year-long reign, she made many visits to the West Country.

As the official period of Lying-in-State begins in London, we wanted to share some of our archive photos taken during these official visits.

Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of Chew Valley Lake in 1956.
The Bristol Constabulary Mace escort Queen Elizabeth II outside Bristol Cathedral in 1973.
Her Majesty the Queen visiting Bristol and the Council House, which she officially opened back in April 1956.
Officers stood guard as crowds came out in their thousands to wish Her Majesty well during her visit to Bath in 1973.
Well wishers lined the streets of Bristol’s St Augustine’s Parade during her Silver Jubilee Tour in 1977.
Her Majesty meets crowds in Bristol city centre in August 1977.
The late Chief Constable Kenneth Steele pictured meeting Her Majesty the Queen on the dockside adjacent to the Royal Yacht Britannia, during the official opening of the Royal Portbury Docks.
Queen Elizabeth II is saluted at Filton airfield.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Phillip arrive in Weston-super-Mare on the 1977 Silver Jubilee Tour by open carriage.
Officers link hands to control the crowds who had gathered to see the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on Weston-super-Mare’s Beach Lawns.
Her Majesty waved to the crowds during her visit to the West Country in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee Tour.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the new Avon and Somerset Police Portishead HQ for its official opening in 1995.
Former Chief Constable David Shattock and Her Majesty The Queen with Police Horse Windsor at the opening of Avon and Somerset Police Portishead HQ in 1995.
Former Chief Constable David Shattock and Her Majesty The Queen at the opening of Avon and Somerset Police Portishead HQ in 1995.
Former Chief Constable David Shattock presenting Her Majesty The Queen with a Bristol blue glass truncheon at the opening of Avon and Somerset Police Portishead HQ in 1995.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opening the Avon and Somerset Police Headquarters in Portishead in 1995.
Her Majesty the Queen was taken on a tour of the new facility, including the 999 call centre.
Her Majesty waved to the gathered crowds before leaving the headquarters on 1995.
Her Majesty was a picture in purple when she met former Chief Constable Colin Port in Yeovil in 2012.
During the visit, Her Majesty officially named Police Horse Jubilee (pictured) during her visit. PH Jubilee has met Queen Elizabeth II twice and was a regular member of the mounted division before retiring in 2020.
During her visit to Bruton, Her Majesty formally named Police Horse Windsor. PH Windsor is still a serving member of the mounted police division today.
Her Majesty enjoyed meeting the mounted division during her visit in 2019.