Queen to open the Great North Museum and City Library

Oct 28 2009 by Nicola Juncar, The Journal

TWO of the region's newest attractions are to get a royal seal of approval next week.

Her Majesty the Queen will be arriving in Newcastle next Friday accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to perform the official opening ceremony of the Great North Museum and also to open the new city library.

The Royal couple will be given a tour of the venue before unveiling a plaque to commemorate their visit.

The Great North Museum has attracted more than half a million visitors since it opened its doors to the public in May.

Newcastle University led the £26m project, in partnership with Newcastle City Council, the Natural History Society of Northumbria, the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums.

Professor Paul Younger, Pro Vice Chancellor at Newcastle University and chair of the Great North Museum Board, said: “This is a tremendous honour for the museum and the entire partnership behind it. The Great North Museum has already established a special place in the estimation of visitors from near and far, and it now receives the highest accolade in being opened by Her Majesty The Queen.”

During the Queen’s visit to the North East, she will also visit the new-look City Library, which opened to the public in June following a multi-million pound rebuild.