What a fantastic day - thank you!

PALACE SALUTE TO GREATER MANCHESTER AFTER VISIT OF KING AND QUEEN CONSORT

- CHRIS SLATER

BUCKINGHAM Palace has hailed a 'fantastic day' after Greater Manchester rolled out the red carpet for the new King.

King Charles made his first visit to the region since ascending to the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last September.

Accompanied by Queen Consort Camilla, he mingled with crowds who had gathered to greet them, saw one of LS Lowry's famous paintings up close, played football, met England manager Gareth Southgate and even asked how United were getting on during a whirlwind tour.

He also met factory workers, schoolkids and community volunteers amongst others at the four visits in Manchester city centre, Trafford, Bolton and Wythenshawe.

The King arrived in the city yesterday morning on the Royal Train which pulled in at Victoria Station, where he was greeted by the High Sheriff, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Stephen Watson and the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. His motorcade was seen passing down Deansgate in the city centre as the monarch made an under-the-radar visit to the North West hub of the government intelligence service agency GCHQ, currently housed in Heron House just off Albert Square.

King Charles received 'several briefings from GCHQ's mission teams' and staff trying to inspire the code-breakers, engineers and mathematicians of the future. He also met pupils from New Islington Primary School and graduates from GCHQ's Apprenticeship He then made his way to Trafford where he visited the Kellogg's factory in Trafford Park to mark the 100th anniversary of the company 'bringing breakfast to Britain' Kellogg's has been a holder of the Royal Warrant since the reign of King George VI and cereal from the business was historically delivered to Buckingham Palace in a small van called Genevieve.