Almost 50 years to the day she opened it, the Queen is to visit the Forth Road Bridge on Friday.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the monarch will mark the structure’s half century by unveiling a plaque dedicated to the people who have worked on the maintenance and operation of the bridge over the past five decades.
The plaque is being housed at the viewing platform, located next to the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) offices. It will sit alongside the memorial the Queen unveiled when opening the Bridge on September 4 1964.
While at the bridge, the royal party will meet Feta’s six longest serving members of staff. She will also be presented with a bouquet of flowers by eight-year-old Charlotte Waite.
Also present will be a small group of members from the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), who formed the guard of honour when the Queen opened the Bridge.
The group who will proudly represent the original guard includes guard commander Colonel Dudley Lucas, who was then a major, and Major Philip Grant, who was then a lieutenant.
They will then cross over the bridge, as the Queen makes her way to Rosyth to name HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Feta convener Lesley Hinds said: “It was a young HM the Queen who opened the Forth Road Bridge 50 years ago, so Feta is honoured to welcome Her Majesty back to help mark the bridge’s 50th birthday.
“Many people have dedicated their entire lives to maintaining and operating the Forth Road Bridge and I can think of no better way to commemorate the time and effort they have given over the years.”