From our archives:

85 years ago

Forty thousand people gathered at Stormont, near Belfast to see the Prince of Wales open the new Parliament Buildings.

The Prince, after a midnight dash from London, landed at Donegal Quay, Belfast, and drove from the docks to Stormont under grey skies.

Nearly half the population of Belfast took to the streets, along with 150,000 visitors from all parts of the six countries.

The route to Stormont was packed four deep on either side.

In Dartmoor prison officers had taken to the moors in search of two escaped convicts who had clambered over the walls of the prison and escaped in the mist after complaining during the dinner hour about the quality of food.

Bloodhounds were also taken into the prison, but the weather was such that it was doubtful whether they could be used.

50 years ago

York Minster choir’s new practice room was now ready to be officially opened by the Archbishop, Dr Donald Coggan.

The first-floor room near the south door was formerly the Chamberlain’s office and a men’s vestry had been restored and furnished by the Friends of the Minister in memory of Dr Eric Milner-White.

RAF Fylingdale, had a grand visitor Mr Roy Mason, from the Minister of Defence.

Arriving by helicopter from RAF Leconfield Mr Mason was promptly shown round the early warning station and asked a series of questions; whether the station could cope with sub-orbital bomb approach, if there was any evidence to show that anything had yet been spotted which could be called a UFO.

In Cardiff police had set up road blocks and checked the whereabouts of Welsh extremists after an explosion damaged the Temple of peace, moments before a meeting in connection with the investiture of the Prince of Wales was held in the building.

20 years ago

The Queen had totally ruled out abdication and there will be no skipping a generation to allow Prince William to become the next monarch, a senior Royal aide revealed during an interview with Panorama.

The Royal Family had also slashed its running costs by a massive 39% in the last seven years, as the process of reform accelerated after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

And Berwick was back for his 20th pantomime in York, playing the part of Widow Twanky in Aladdin.