THE royal family has visited Swindon on several occasions and left lasting memories in the minds of those they met.

Coun Brian Ford is one of two serving borough councillors who were also part of the local authority when Queen Elizabeth II came to Swindon in 1997 (the other is Coun Kevin Small, if you're wondering).

He recalled with a smile two key moments from that occasion.

Coun Ford said: "First, she had one-and-a-half minutes to talk to each of us and she did it so seamlessly, going from one to the other precisely, on the dot.

"Second, Mayor Maurice Fanning got the mace out of the Mayor;s Parlour to show her - it was Edward VIII's, the king who was never crowned, and there are only two in existence.

"I was there and watched as she put her hand on it and said 'Uncle's!'

"She said she only has two pieces of her uncle's 'plate' - the regalia associated with him - and the Mayor said 'if you want this, you will have to ask the 200,000 people in Swindon first'."

When the Queen's successor was proclaimed, it brought back memories of a different royal visit carried out by the then-Prince of Wales.

Coun Ford recalled a moment which speaks to the thoughtfulness of the new King's character.

He added: "I met him when he gave a speech about architecture when the Designer Outlet was being built.

"I was second in the receiving line of 38 people and we talked for a couple of minutes. He asked me if I was at the beginning or the end of my time in office and I said I had six weeks left.

"During the rest of the day, he met several other people, had a lot of important meetings and scared his security by going around and talking to members of the public as much as he could.

"A few of us were allowed to say our goodbyes before he left and he shook hands with each one - but accidentally missed me.

"He got in his car, the door closed, it drove about 20 yards - then suddenly stopped. He got out, went over to me, shook my hand and said 'I hope you enjoy those last six weeks, Mr Mayor'.

"I think he will be a brilliant King."