The royal couple made their official visit to the town on Monday, June 28, 1965 to officially open the new £1 million council offices, and also visited Helensburgh train station and Sinclair Street, where they received a ‘tumultuous welcome’ from local residents and businesses.

It may have only been a 15 minute visit, but shops and businesses closed early as crowds gathered for an hour before the scheduled 4pm arrival.

The royal couple met local councillors and Provost J. McLeod as they visited the decorated Municipal Buildings.

Following the brief visit, HM the Queen signed the visitor’s book and was then accompanied by her entourage to Helensburgh Central station where she met officials of British Rail, saw a model of the then revolutionary electric Blue Train, and received a toy train for Prince Andrew.

Press from the time remembered the Royal Visit as a cheerful occasion.

The Helensburgh and Gareloch Times marked the occasion with a full picture spread and a special report.

It read: “The human touch came as Her Majesty stepped over to sign the town’s visitor’s book and a portrait of herself.

“It was then that the Duke of Edinburgh broke away from the main party and approached the barrier.

“He threw his arms out over the heads of a group of tiny tot schoolchildren and smilingly exclaimed, ‘Are you all being crushed!’ “This was the second quip of a jovial day for the Duke.

“At Dumbarton earlier he surveyed a group of ermine-clad baillies and cracked, ‘You chaps warm enough’?” The Queen battled through illness to make the visit to Helensburgh, but still made time to greet people from the town.

The Times reported: “For Helensburgh it had been a wonderful afternoon, too fleeting perhaps but the end of a full programme for the Queen who smiled gailly despite the slight fatigue she must have felt after her illness the previous day.

“It was a busy day, a tiring day, but first class organisation by the County Council and the police let it go without a real hitch, and at five minutes past five the Queen stepped back aboard Britannia, the Royal yacht, at Rothesay dock, Clydebank.” Not many Helensburgh residents remember the Royal visit, but the Advertiser managed to track down a couple of local faces who remembered the day.

Marion Gillies, 82, who lives in the town’s William Street, took her daughter Margaret along to the visit and remembered being star struck as the royal couple made their way through the town.

She told the Advertiser: “The only thing I really remember is that Prince Philip looked so handsome and much better looking than pictures I had seen of him previously.

“It was a very short walk when they got out the car at Sinclair Street and the children were waving flags. I remember lifting my daughter up so that she could see them.” Isa Mackinnon, 90, still lives in the town and said she had vivid memories of seeing the Queen up close.

She said: “I can remember taking the kids down to it. When you see her you think she’s that much taller than the pictures.

“I can remember the streets being packed and the children were out of school to meet the Duke of Edinburgh.

“The atmosphere was great, people were cheering.”