Her Majesty the Queen made her first official visit to Shropshire on Thursday, when she was welcomed to Shrewsbury.

During her visit the Queen toured the Shrewsbury Farmers Market and visited Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, managed by Historic England.

“We are delighted to have welcomed HM The Queen to Shropshire, and at the warm reception from our county town,” said Vince Hunt, chairman of Shropshire Council. “It was an honour to welcome her.”

At the beginning of The Queen’s visit in The Square, Anna Turner, the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, presented Mandy Thorn DL, High Sheriff of Shropshire, and her husband Mark Thorn; Councillor Rebecca Wall, Mayor of Shrewsbury; Daniel Kawczynski MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham; Alex Murray, Temporary Chief Constable of West Mercia Police; and Jenny Jones and Stuart Jones, representing Shrewsbury Farmers Market, who escorted The Queen around the market stalls.

After signing the town visitors’ book, the Queen travelled to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, where representatives of many of Shropshire’s community groups and officials were presented, among them Vince Hunt, Chairman of Shropshire Council, Lezley Picton, Leader of Shropshire Council, and Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s chief executive.

The Queen was also introduced to Lord Mendoza CBE, chair of Historic England, and Michael Bishop, director of corporate strategy and business improvement at Historic England; before meeting the Shrewsbury Food Hub, represented by Ali Thomas, Tammy Bloodworth, Andrew Howe, Ann Blanchard and Wilf Hewitt; and Shrewsbury Food Bank’s Foodbank Plus, represented by Danielle DBono and David Elwyn Matthias. Shrewsbury Repair Café, represented by Liz Evans, Julie Hepplewhite and Ruth Andrew, were also present.

John Mustafa, founder of Shrewsbury Interfaith Forum, presented group representatives Denise Samari and Tim Harwood; before Amanda Jones of Shropshire Supports Refugees presented group members Robert Douglas and Emma Hughes.

Members of a selection of the 42 Shropshire-based organisations addressing climate change across Shropshire were also be presented to the Queen by Allan Wilson, co-founder of Save Our Shropshire.

Before leaving, the Queen also met Catherine Johnstone CBE, CEO of the Royal Voluntary Service, and Patrick Dunne OBE, Chair of the Royal Voluntary Service, and unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit.