© Photo: RexThe Queen enjoyed a day out on the cobbles, visiting the iconic Coronation Street set in Manchester on Thursday.
Her Majesty, who is reportedly a fan of the show, met long-serving cast members and crew as she toured the ITV Studios set.
Upon arrival she was greeted by Corrie stars, William Roache, Barbara Knox, Sue Nicholls and Helen Worth.
She heard how working practices on the soap opera were adapted to allow filming to continue during the pandemic.
The Queen was dressed for the occasion in an Angela Kelly teal coat and a matching feathered hat.
In December 2020, Coronation Street celebrated its 60th anniversary, making it the world's longest-running drama serial.
The monarch and her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the fictional town of Weatherfield in 1982, while on a visit to Manchester during her Diamond Jubilee tour.
Take a look at the best photos from the Queen's visit to Manchester…
WATCH: The Queen meets the stars of Coronation Street during set visit
© Photo: Getty ImagesHer Majesty began her tour with four actors who between them have more than 200 years service on the show.
William "Bill" Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, Barbara Knox who is cast as Rita, Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey and Helen Worth, known to millions of soap fans as Gail, greeted the Queen with bows and curtsies outside the Rovers Return.
Roache told the Queen he had first seen her when she visited Jamaica in 1963, when he was serving as an officer with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He added: "Thank you so much for coming today."
Knox told the Queen when she first arrived: "Good morning, Your Majesty, you have brought the sunshine.
"You know you are like a ray of sunshine.
"And you’ve given us all such a lift (with) you coming, thank you very very much indeed.
"We all absolutely adore you, the world adores you."
The Queen, who asked how they had managed to keep filming during the pandemic, replied: "It's really marvellous you've been able to carry on", and Roache replied to laughter: "Well, ma'am, you're the one who has carried on."
Keep clicking for more photos...
© Photo: RexThe Queen received quite the reception as she arrived on the set, walking down the red carpet to the Coronation Street theme tune! Bunting had been hung up across the set, while cast members and crew waved flags.
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© Photo: RexThe Queen walked down Weatherfield's famous cobbled streets, meeting cast and crew members of the soap.
The royal visitor created lots of excitement on the set!
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© Photo: RexThe Queen was accompanied into Studio 1, home of the Rovers Return, by Dame Carolyn McCall, chief executive of ITV.
Among those waiting to greet her were Sally Ann Matthews, who plays landlady Jenny Connor and Antony Cotton, who plays barman Sean Tully.
Cotton told her that they tried to make people laugh, finding light in the darker storylines.
"There's not been a lot to laugh about," the Queen observed.
She was told that the pub was portrayed as in real life, with Covid guidelines observed throughout.
"You went on being a pub?" she asked. "It all became relative, didn't it, to what was going on."
Matthews told her: "We know as actors how fortunate we've been to keep working when so many in the industry… it's been badly affected. The hospitality has been badly affected as well."
© Photo: Getty ImagesFinally the Queen was introduced to Charlotte Jordan, who plays Daisy Midgeley, the street "troublemaker" she was told.
The Queen replied: "I suppose life is a trouble."
Before leaving to cheers and applause by the more than 300 cast and crew on the set, the royal visitor was presented with a "Corrie Cobble" from the original set, specially engraved by a local stonemason and some Newton & Ridley beer mats.
© Photo: RexThe monarch accessorised her outfit with a string of pearls and matching earrings, with the Queen Mother's ruby and diamond bouquet brooch pinned to her jacket.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Queen last visited Coronation Street in 1982, at its original site in Manchester before the soap moved to new studios at Media City in Salford in 2013.
© Photo: Getty ImagesFor her next stop of the day, the Queen visited Manchester Cathedral where she met representatives from the Cathedral to hear about the support they have given to the local community during the last 18 months.
The head of state's visit marked the 600th anniversary of the Collegiate Church of Manchester, which became a cathedral in 1847.
The monarch was greeted by Dean of Manchester Cathedral, Rogers Govender, upon arrival.
He said: "She was here to mark the occasion with us and given the Covid restrictions she was unable to come into the cathedral so we had the event outside.
"It’'s a huge honour that in the midst of all the Covid challenges and her busy schedule that she managed to find time and celebrate with us."
© Photo: Getty ImagesHer Majesty met community groups from across the North West, including representatives from youth groups, carers, businesses and charity volunteers to hear how they have supported those affected by the pandemic.
