The Queen visits Cambridge

The Queen has visited Cambridge for a day of engagements at The National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Queen’s College and Royal Papworth Hospital.

Her Majesty first visited the National Institute of Agricultural Botany where Her Majesty viewed an exhibition celebrating 100 years of crop research.

NIAB is one of Britain’s oldest, and fastest growing, crop science research centres. The Institute as it was originally known, was founded in 1919 as a charitable trust.

King George V and Queen Mary, were the first members of the Royal Family to visit NIAB in 1921 where Queen Mary planted a Mulberry tree.

The Queen also planted a Hornbeam Tree at NIAB and was presented with a bowl made from the tree Queen Mary planted.

The Queen also met staff and viewed the plant breeders programme to learn about research work to improve yield and crop resilience.

At lunchtime The Queen visited Queens’ College Cambridge, Her Majesty is Patroness.

Her Majesty met staff and graduates at the college.

Later in the day, The Queen visited Royal Papworth Hospital, accompanied by The Duchess of Gloucester.

The Royal Papworth Hospital is the UK’s leading heart and lung hospital, treating more than 100,000 patients each year from across the UK.

Her Majesty and The Duchess visited the new building to see the catheter laboratories and the critical care unit.

The Queen and The Duchess of Gloucester met Eliza and Yasmin who both received transplants earlier this year and became friends. Eliza had a heart transplant and Yasmin had a double lung transplant. The Queen also met Mr Pedro Catarino, Clinical Lead for Transplantation.

As well as performing more heart and lung transplants than any other UK centre, Royal Papworth Hospital has the UK’s largest Respiratory Support and Sleep Centre (RSSC).

After the visit The Queen met young people outside of the hospital.