Queen returns for second Tyne Tunnel opening
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited Tyne and Wear as part of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The day-long tour included the Queen opening the new Tyne Tunnel as well as visits to Sunderland and Durham Castle.
The Queen said she was "delighted" to revisit the Tyne Tunnel, 45 years after she opened the original transport link.
Waiting schoolchildren waved flags and burst into a spontaneous rendition of God Save The Queen as her state Bentley drew up to the south end of the underpass.
The Queen also started a wheelchair race through the tunnel before she and the Duke of Edinburgh spoke to those who worked on the recently-completed Tyne Tunnel 2 project, which enhances links between North and South Tyneside.
18 Jul 2012
- From the section Tyne & Wear