THE country is in mourning following the death of the Queen, the UK's longest serving monarch.
Buckingham Palace confirmed her death at Balmoral this afternoon.
She has visited Runcorn and Widnes during her 70 year reign.
And today we are looking back to 2018 when she was joined by the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle on a visit by royal train to open the Mersey Gateway bridge.
The royal visitors stepped onto the blustery platform at Runcorn station to be welcomed with polite handshakes and curtsies from local dignitaries - and wild cheering and applause from hundreds of flag-waving schoolchildren.
Schoolchildren flocked to Runcorn train station to greet the Queen and Meghan Markle, 36,
All eyes were on the duchess as she passed another royal milestone, joining the Queen for an event without her husband for the first time.
The opening event for the bridge was held at the Catalyst Museum in West Bank, Widnes, which offers a bird's eye view of the new crossing from the glass top observation gallery.
Later the pair were heading to the historic city of Chester for more engagements.
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