AS well as the five occasions on which he accompanied The Queen to the county, Prince Philip also made several solo visits to Worcestershire, usually with his wry humour and keen interest in business development well to the fore.

In the late Seventies, after a decade of particularly fractious industrial relations across the UK, Reg Ward, chief executive of the new joint county council of Hereford and Worcester, organised a showcase setting for the county’s industries in its recently opened HQ, County Hall in Spetchley Road, Worcester.

Prince Philip was asked to perform the opening ceremony of the Open Industrial Bureau on May 4, 1978, and began: “I am not absolutely sure who invited me to take part in the opening proceedings today, but even if the audience may have reservations about the wisdom of their choice, I would like to say that I very much appreciate the invitation.”

Remarking on the Bureau initiative to promote local trade and industry, he added: “If this is a sign that the national pastime of throwing stones at the goose which lays the eggs of wealth is coming to an end there is real cause for rejoicing.”

Referring to the impact of new technology, he said: “People undoubtedly want security and continuity, but unfortunately there are such things as inventors and innovators. But for them we would still be using sailing ships, horse drawn carriages and bows and arrows.

“This, of course, would be ideal for sail and rope makers, carriage builders and bow and arrow manufacturers, but we don’t live in an ideal world. If we don’t take part in industrial progress we will just have to sit and watch other countries get on the electronic bandwagon and other modern developments.”

Before the visit The Palace had made it known that Prince Philip did not wish to be driven to County Hall in a foreign-made car – West Mercia Police vehicle fleet were BMWs – so a British Jaguar was hired for the day and the Chief Constable’s car number plate AB1 was transferred from the BMW to the Jag for the duration.

In 1999, when Worcestershire County Cricket Club celebrated its centenary in the County Championship and its hundredth year at Worcester’s New Road ground, HRH was guest of honour for the Club’s one-day game against the Australians.

Prince Philip plants a silver birch tree at New Road. Image courtesy WCCC

Prince Philip plants a silver birch tree at New Road. Image courtesy WCCC

He also planted a silver birch tree to mark the occasion.

Club secretary Mike Vockins recalled: “Prince Philip took a keen interest in the pitch before the start of the game and was introduced to the players of both teams. He stayed to watch much of the cricket and was a delightful guest.”

In fact, the Prince stated so long he was almost late for a speaking engagement in London that evening.

But it was when the royal couple came to Worcester for the Maundy Service in April 1980 that he made his greatest impression on the local press.

The cathedral service was followed by a reception in the Guildhall where The Queen and Prince Philip shook hands with a line-up of civic leaders and personalities. Among them was Mike Grundy, the Worcester Evening News’s political editor, author of many local history books and a Midlands Journalist of the Year winner.

Mistaking him for a civic leader, Prince Philip asked: “Why aren’t you wearing a chain?” Slightly taken aback, Mike replied: “I’m a journalist, sir.” At which the Prince, who had a rather detached relationship with most reporters (he once told a VIP in the Caribbean “You have mosquitoes, we have the Press”), gave a harrumph and swiftly walked on.

One in the eye for award-winning WEN journalist Mike Grundy during a royal visit in 1980

One in the eye for award-winning WEN journalist Mike Grundy during a royal visit in 1980

However, Mike did later appear in a photograph with the royal visitors, albeit caught at a moment when it looked like The Queen had just poked him in the eye with her umbrella. The Prince, of course, was looking the other way.