The Queen is to visit Matlock

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen will make her first official visit to Matlock in 22 years, arriving by train mid–morning at Matlock Station before visiting Lea Mills and Chatsworth House.

In Matlock, bunting will adorn the town and musicians will add to the atmosphere from around 10.00am when crowds are encouraged to join local schoolchildren in lining the streets as the Royal party travel by car from Matlock to Lea Bridge.

It means the Royal couple will briefly step “over the border” into Amber Valley to visit the Lea Mills headquarters of John Smedley Limited to mark the Derbyshire knitwear company’s 230th anniversary year before returning back through Matlock town centre on their way to Chatsworth House.

The Royal car will approach Chatsworth House through Rowsley village and the Chatsworth Estate. The grounds and car parks will be open to the public as usual - but visitors wishing to view the arrival are advised to give themselves plenty of time and park at Chatsworth no later than 11.00am.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be welcomed to one of Britain’s foremost country houses by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and will acknowledge crowds in the grounds, where the public will have the opportunity to see the Royal visitors.

This will be followed by a reception in Chatsworth’s Painted Hall for 80 representatives of the county’s voluntary and charity sector hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire Mr William Tucker with his wife, both of whom will accompany the Royal couple throughout the day’s visit. Later there will a private luncheon in Chatsworth House.

Organisers are appealing in advance to any regular users of the A6 road in particular to steer clear between the hours of 10.00am. and 12 noon on the 10th, or give themselves extra time for their journeys. No disruption is envisaged on the local rail network.

Regular users of Derbyshire Dales District Council’s station car park are advised that it will be closed on the morning of the 10th until after the Royal car’s departure, but special parking arrangements will be made for passengers using earlier outbound trains. A parking prohibition order will also be in place on Chatsworth Road in Rowsley on the morning of the 10th.