Carefully selected from the remarkable Western Morning News and Evening Herald archives, the 200 photographs included range from Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, through Queen Elizabeth the late Queen Mother, to Queen Elizabeth II and her children during visits to the counties of Devon & Cornwall.

Kings, queens, princes and princesses have come regularly to both counties. Rarely a year has gone by without royalty in the West; to meet service personnel in times of war and peace; to visit or open military and naval establishments; to tour the Devon and Cornwall County Shows; to visit schools, theatres, factories, shopping centres, charities, and many more.

Many members of the public will recall seeing royalty, even waiting hours for a glimpse of monarchy in person. Professional photographers – and indeed others, simply wanting a snap for their own albums – can testify to the cheerful co-operation shown to them, particularly by the Queen and the late Queen Mother, and their insistence on wearing hats that did not hide their faces, so they could be seen properly by everyone.

Throughout a reign which has seen changes in country and society unimaginable at the start, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has retained the dignity of monarchy as is demonstrated in so many of these splendid westcountry occasions.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 167 1, digital download, 297x210mm, 160 pages. Published 2002. Pdf e-book April 2012.