Le Flâneur Bleu

Jonathan Myles-Lea is a British artist and photographer. He also lectures about art, architecture and the history of gardens.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Her Majesty The Queen & His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visit Hereford Cathedral

People in their thousands turned out to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on their arrival at Hereford Cathedral today. Their visit was the first point of call in the Herefordshire Diamond Day event, to formally open Hereford Cathedral’s recently refurbished Cathedral Close.

Her Majesty The Queen visits Hereford Cathedral. July 11, 2012.  Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea
(All photographs on this website are protected by the copyright ownership of  Jonathan Myles-Lea).

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by The Right Reverend Anthony Priddis Bishop of Hereford and The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor Dean of Hereford, before meeting representatives from the cathedral clergy and the Cathedral Close Project team who undertook the Heritage Lottery supported restoration between 2009 and 2012.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visits Hereford Cathedral. 11 July 2012 Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea

In his Decanal address, The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford said “The newly refurbished Cathedral Close is something of which we can all be immensely proud, and this space at the heart of our community will be a reminder to us all, not only of Your Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, but also of  your constant and devoted service to Church & State".

HM The Queen at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Hereford Cathedral. © Jonathan Myles-Lea


Her Majesty The Queen at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen visits Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visit Hereford Cathedral July 2012 © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen with The Dean of Hereford Cathedral, The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen signing book at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen at Hereford Cathedral. © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HRH Prince Philip visits Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea



Her Majesty The Queen waving at crowds. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea



Her Majesty The Queen & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea






HM The Queen. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea






 HM The Queen collecting posies. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea










HRH The Quuen with The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea








HM The Queen & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in Hereford. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen with The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral


HM The Queen with The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral

HM The Queen signing a book at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


© Jonathan Myles-Lea














HM The Queen & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen with The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea



HM The Queen. © Jonathan Myles-Lea









HM The Queen with The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea










Glyn Morgan with HM The Queen & HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea


HM The Queen at Hereford Cathedral. Photo © Jonathan Myles-Lea










Decanal Speech to Her Majesty The Queen and 
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Hereford Cathedral, 11 July 2012
The Very Reverend Michael Tavinor :


"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness 

Your first visit to Hereford Cathedral was in 1957, then the first time a reigning monarch is believed to have come to the city since the visit of Charles I. 

You returned to the cathedral in 1976 for the Royal Maundy, the year in which the diocese celebrated its 1300th anniversary. Latterly, in 1996 you visited us again to open the Mappa Mundi building. 

Now, ma’am, you return to help us celebrate not only your own Jubilee but also the completion of a project conceived around the time of your Golden Jubilee and brought to its completion, ten years later, in this diamond year. 

The Cathedral Close is a much loved and used space at the heart of the city, county & diocese, expressing God’s welcome to all, and its refurbishment not only enhances its own quality but also helps to enhance the setting of the cathedral itself. 

Ma’am, might I record my thanks to all those who have contributed to and worked on the project– the contractors and craftsmen - the many generous funders, not least the Heritage Lottery Fund -
those who developed and planned the project- those who have supported the work as volunteers. 

The end result is something of which we can all, I believe, be immensely proud and this space at the heart of our community will, from today, be a reminder to us all, not only of Your Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, but also of your constant and devoted service to Church & State. 

Ma’am, may I now invite you to unveil the stone officially opening the Cathedral Close".