Published on 8th May 1987
The 8th May 1987 marked the first visit of a Monarch to Taunton in almost 500 years after the Monmouth Rebellion.
Crowds of over 30,000 lined the streets of Taunton to witness the event of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh arriving from London on board the Royal Train and were received by Lord-Lieutenant for Somerset (Lieutenant Colonel Walter Luttrell). The Royal Trains arrived into Taunton Station around mid-morning behind Class 47 No.47628 ‘Sir Daniel Gooch’. The Queen and Prince Philip carried out engagements in Castle Square (watching performances from the Taunton Deane Morris Men visiting the Museum of Somerset), as well as speaking with members of the public who’d gathered. The Queen also had a visit to the Municipal Buildings located in Corporation Street. A visit to Musgrove Park Hospital also took place, before luncheon at the Country Hotel in East Street. Later the Royal glass-topped Rolls Royce transported the Queen and Prince Philip out of the town passing roads lined by local schools and school children waiting for their glimpse of the Queen Elizabeth. In this Platinum Jubilee year, it’s unlikely the town will every have a visit from the current Monarch again.
