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Royal Visit to the Port of Hull

The official opening of Queen Elizabeth Dock, Hull, by HRH Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Documentary 1969 10 mins Silent

Overview

The Dock Board's low-budget but nonetheless privileged record of the official opening of Hull's Queen Elizabeth Dock in August 1969. After the speeches and obligatory plaque unveiling, the Royal party is lead through the passenger terminal to the bank of the Humber where the Navy are out in full regalia, and the trusty paddle steamer, Wingfield Castle, returns them to the Royal Yacht, Britannia.

Hull may have been a seaport for a thousand years but by 1969, modernisation had brought radical changes. The port saw 7000 vessels per year visit from Scandinavia, the Baltic, Germany and Holland, and North Sea Ferries introduced their roll-on roll-off ferries to the continent. The 28-acre extension to King George Dock was christened Queen Elizabeth Dock, and was equipped with a new passenger terminal, seen in the film.