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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Melanie Harvey, Daily Record & David McLean

When Glasgow's famous Hampden Roar greeted the Queen on her coronation

Our late Queen visited towns and cities up and down the country during her 1953 Coronation tour, but it's unlikely she was treated to a reception as vociferous as the one she experienced on the Hampden Park turf.

The famous 'Hampden Roar' was in no short supply on Thursday, June 25, 1953, but this was certainly no Auld Enemy clash.

A crowd of more than 60,000 spectators gathered at the Mount Florida ground, the long-time home of, rather fittingly, Queen's Park, to greet Britain's newly-crowned monarch.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II in Glasgow: 18 amazing photos show Her Majesty's many visits down the years

Earlier that day, huge crowds gathered at George Square in the sweltering heat to witness the arrival of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh at the City Chambers, where they met with civic leaders - but it almost turned into a day to forget.

As the royal couple emerged from the City Chambers, a massive swell of humanity rushed forward to catch a glimpse of their new queen. A crush ensued, with a number of people trampled and younger children passed over heads to safety.

Officials later estimated that around 350 people had been caught up in the George Square crush, with 35 receiving treatment for their injuries in hospital.

The royal couple were then taken by carriage along the procession route, which was lined by thousands of eager spectators, who burst into renditions of the national anthem as Her Majesty passed by.

Later, a crowd of more than 60,000 people packed Hampden Park for a youth rally in what would be one of the biggest events of the Coronation tour of Scotland.

A great "Hampden roar" went up as The Queen and Prince Philip arrived to be greeted by a sea of flag-waving faces all dressed in their Sunday best, as they drove around the hallowed turf in the 25C heat.

The royal couple then participated in an inspection of a guard of honour of the Glasgow Highlanders before taking their seats in the royal box for a performance by a youth choir and displays of gymnastics and dancing.

The Daily Record reported the following day: "Sixty thousand gaily-dressed children went to the great bowl of Hampden yesterday to give the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh a royal roar that even the Hampden Roar at its finest could never hope to match.

"It was tremendous. That was the description the Duke of Edinburgh himself used later about the cheers and about the display of youth activities that went on for an hour on the green turf under a blazing hot sun."

The Queen said of the display: "It was overwhelming. A wonderful scene and spectacle."

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The high temperatures and overall spectacle got the better of some, though, with 20 children carried off having wilted in the sunshine and excitement. In total, there were 150 casualties who required medical help.

The Hampden event was the culmination of a day in the city and surrounding towns that brought thousands on to the streets.

The Daily Record summed up the events like this: "Glasgow's welcome to the Queen was as warm as the sun that blazed down on the city in a day of roasting heat and regal splendour.

"People jammed the town, packed the streets, stood on balconies, went up on roofs, clung to flagpoles, stood on bricks and chairs to get a better view, did without lunch and joined in mad scrambles for vantage points."

Her Majesty's first state visit of Scotland was certainly a memorable one.

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