June 26th 2025 marks 50 years since Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque to commemorate her official opening of New Covent Garden Market.
The official opening came over six months after the Market had opened its doors - on November 11th 1974 - and there was a huge crowd in attendance as The Queen and her husband Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, took a tour of the new facilities and met a large cross-section of the people who worked here at the time. To follow are a few photos of that historic and happy day, when Her Majesty hailed the Market as one of London's great institutions and recognised the "legendary character and humour" of its community.
© New Covent Garden Market
"It was a sad day when the Market had to move from his former home," said Her Majesty, "but the Market provides a vital service to the community and in order to continue to do so it must have the best possible facilities."
"Half a century further on, the wish of our dearly departed Queen - that tenants of the Market would adapt to their new environment and continue to serve the population for many years to come - has been granted."
