Hopes were growing today that a royal visitor might set the seal on a fabulous party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Shropshire this summer.

Up to 20,000 are expected to join the Jubliee extravaganza at RAF Cosford on July 12 – the centrepiece of the county’s celebrations.

The big day will be a Shropshire pageant, a picnic and a celebration for the county to remember forever.

The Jubilee already promises to be the most fabulous festival, locally, nationally and internationally. And the county is set to play its part.

Among all the events being planned, the RAF Cosford centrepiece will draw together thousands for a fantastic pageant under the banner Celebrating 60 Glorious Years.

It will involve hundreds of schoolchildren and as many local organisations as possible, with parades through the Queen’s six decades, hangar exhibitions, floats and much more. Organisers hope it will attract up to 20,000 visitors.

Plans for historic, artistic, musical and local success stories to be part of the occasion are well under way and all the county’s schools have been written to inviting them to join in.

The aim is not only the celebration of a reign lasting for 60 eventful years, but one that includes and will be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

The organising group, drawn from across the county, is headed up by The Lord Lieutenant Algy Heber-Percy, the Queen’s representative in Shropshire. The Diamond Jubilee Pageant will follow the march of time through 60 years of Shropshire and the newer Telford & Wrekin.

Mr Heber-Percy said: “Every county in the country is planning a celebration, not only to thank Her Majesty the Queen for all she has done for us and her huge commitment, but also to take the opportunity to look back on the successes of the last 60 years and with the help of so many people across the county, to also look to our future.

“To celebrate 60 glorious years, we are planning this great occasion at Cosford which will be totally free. To set the seal on the special day, we very much hope to have a senior member of the Royal Family with us.”