VIDEO of Queen Elizabeth II visiting Trinidad in 1966

Queen Elizabeth II visited Trinidad and Tobago from 7^th to 10^th February 1966. She and her husband, Prince Philip , were welcomed by tens of thousands of citizens. They were greeted on the wharf by the governor-general, Sir Solomon Hochoy and Lady Hochoy, and Prime Minister Eric Williams, and his daughter Erica. Having reigned for 70 years, she died on Thursday at the age of 96.

Queen Elizabeth travelled around the country, laying a wreath on the Cenotaph, visiting the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, driving through San Fernando, and attending a rally of schoolchildren at Queen's Park.

On 8^th February, the Queen opened the new session of parliament the first reigning monarch to do so. In her speech from the throne she outlined the government's plan for 1966. She prayed that God would give the strength and steadfastness to the government and the nation to keep the path they had freely elected to pursue.

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival was scheduled for a fortnight later, but the people staged a preview for the royal couple. Some of the performers represented historical characters, and Queen Elizabeth was reportedly amused by a man dressed as King Henry VIII. Later, she said, "if this is just a preview sample the real thing must be fabulous".

On 10^th February, Elizabeth and Philip went on a 20-mile state drive in the island of Tobago. In the same evening, they left the country in the royal yacht for Grenada. A set of four stamps were released to commemorate the Queen's first royal visit to the country in 1966.