Today Her Majesty the Queen was in Newmarket - the headquarters of British horseracing to officially unveil a statue of herself and open the new heritage centre.
Crowds lined the High Street in anticipation of her arrival, with hundreds of school children given the morning off lessons to allow them to greet the Queen in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The celebrations started this morning with a parade along the High Street with Suffolk Punch horses and the Royal Hospital School band. Flags, handed out by army and sea cadets, waved in the autumn sun as excitement built.
The Queen has an affinity to the town, it is where many of her own horses are trained and stabled.
The Queen was driven to Birdcage Walk to unveil a bronze statue of herself, with a mare and foal which sits on a Portland stone plinth and was paid for by the Queen’s friend Sheikh Mohammed.
From there she was taken to the heritage centre to officially open the building.
Ten years’ planning have gone into the new centre, which is based in the remains of King Charles II’s sporting palace and stables in the heart of Newmarket.
The new facility comprises three main features - the new National Horse racing Museum, a National Art Gallery of British Sporting Art and a chance to meet former racehorses.
Those behind the project claim it is most significant new attraction to open in Suffolk in recent years, potentially attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world.
The official opening ceremony saw the Queen unveil a commemorative plaque before touring the main facilities at the five-acre site.
She met some of the equine stars in the Rothschild Yard, visited the Robert’s Veterinary Gallery and the Pivotal Racehorse Simulator Gallery, which is supported by the Thompson Family Charitable Trust.
The Queen is Patron of the National Horseracing Museum and 33 years ago she opened the original museum building on Newmarket High Street, in April 1983.
Since then however, the collection has steadily grown until it became clear that a larger venue was needed to showcase the internationally significant works, and the sport of horseracing in general.
The new museum project has taken more than a decade to come to fruition.
In March 2005, the Home of Horseracing Trust was formed by local partners and plans for the National Heritage Centre were developed.
And now 11 years on, a world-class destination has been created in a venue that showcases the ‘Sport of Kings’ in every element - preserving its past, safeguarding its present and celebrating its future.
During her visit, The Queen was introduced to many of the individuals and organisations whose support has made the redevelopment possible.
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