The Isle of Wight Farmers' Market received some very important visitors in 2004 — the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Flanked by sea cadets from TS Osborne, Robin Oulton, the then chairman of the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market, and Mary Case, who was then treasurer, were presented to the royal couple.

Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see more...

They then accompanied the Queen and Duke through the marquee in St Thomas's Square, Newport.

Speaking to the County Press just before the Platinum Jubilee, Mary recalled: "There was a lot of secrecy and planning prior to the visit, it barely seemed real that Her Majesty and the Duke were going to visit the farmers' market."

Isle of Wight County Press: Mary Case, pictured here in 2017, was among those who met the Queen at the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive.Mary Case, pictured here in 2017, was among those who met the Queen at the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive. (Image: IWCP Archive)

Mary continued: "On the day, the excitement was palpable, I had to remember to address the Queen as your majesty and the Duke as your Royal Highness, at the same time shaking hands and curtsying.

"Each stallholder was introduced to the Queen and the Duke and discussion followed regarding the produce they sold.

"Towards the end of the visit the Queen spied a terrier dog, who was obligingly sitting on a table. I doubt there were many other terriers on the Island who have been spoken to and stroked by Her Majesty!"

During the tour of the farmers' market, the Duke's eyes were drawn to a basket of lardy cakes on the Market Bakery stall and he was sufficiently intrigued to ask the then proprietor, Huw Ross, what they were.

Huw recently recalled: "I spoke with both the Duke and the Queen that day. Normally the farmers' market was held in Newport on a Friday, but the royal visit was on a Wednesday, so we had all had to make an extra effort to be there.

"I mentioned to her that it wasn't the normal day for the farmers' market and she replied that we must have gone to an awful lot of trouble! The Queen was delightful though — she was a proper lady, and it was lovely to meet her." 

Isle of Wight County Press: Huw Ross talks with Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive.Huw Ross talks with Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive.

Huw sold Market Bakery approximately ten years ago and today he is landlord of The Crispin pub in Newport.

Also at the farmers' market, Sharon McNally's mustards and apple juice drew comment from the royal couple and during the tour, the Queen was presented with a basket of local produce, including asparagus, various chutneys and mustards, lavender, flowers, biscuits, apple juice, bath products and hand lotion — all presented in a wooden trug made by market member David Collins.

During the 2004 visit, the Queen also went to Osborne House, the former home of Queen Victoria, for a commemorative lunch to mark 100 years of public access to the historic house. 

Among those attending were Christopher Bland and Anthony Goddard, then lord lieutenant and high sheriff of the Isle of Wight respectively, as well as Island MP Andrew Turner, Peggy Jarman, who was then Isle of Wight Council chairman, and the well-known travel writer, Bill Bryson.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Queen, with Debs Goodenough and Alan Titchmarsh, at the palm-planting at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive.The Queen, with Debs Goodenough and Alan Titchmarsh, at the palm-planting at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight in 2004. Photo: IWCP Archive. (Image: IWCP Archive)

Afterwards, she was accompanied by TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh and Osborne's head gardener at the time, Debs Goodenough, in planting a chusan palm to replace the one planted by Queen Victoria on May 24, 1851.

The new palm was a direct descendent of the one planted by Queen Victoria, as it had been grown by Debs and her team from seed.

One interesting postscript to this gardening tale is that during her time at Osborne, Debs also met Prince Charles (now King Charles III) — and she later became head gardener at the Prince of Wales' home at Highgrove for a time. 

The Queen also visited Beaulieu House and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway during this visit. Story to follow. 

Have you got lovely memories of meeting the Queen?

If so, we would love you to share them with us! Simply click on the submissions box below to send your stories and pictures to us!