THE QUEEN is expected to visit Penzance and the Isles of Scilly next month in what would be her first trip to the islands since the 1960s.
The full schedule is expected to be made public later this week, but it is understood the Queen, currently on an historic visit to Ireland, will arrive in Cornwall on June 3.
It will be the first time since 1967 that Queen Elizabeth has been in Scilly, islands largely owned by her son, Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall.
The monarch last travelled to Penzance in 1980, when she officially opened the new quay at Newlyn and visited Geevor Tin Mine. Plaques to commemorate her visit remain at both sites.
It is thought the impending royal visit to Scilly could include the new school currently under construction at Old Town, St Mary's and the naming of the Matt Lethbridge, the islands' new £53,000 Fisheries patrol vessel.
The Queen's only islands' visit 44 years ago was from HMS Britannia. Making his islands' debut then was a young Prince Charles. It was the first time all four members of the royal family – The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne – had made a whole day's tour together.
The only visit to Scilly of a reigning monarch before that was in 1902 by King Edward VII.
Strict security arrangements have been put in place well in advance of the visit which were largely misconstrued as preparations for a rumoured honeymoon for Prince William and his wife Kate, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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