THESE pictures shared by a Daily Echo reader show the future Queen Elizabeth II on a summer visit to a New Forest retreat.

The 23-year-old Princess Elizabeth opened Avon Tyrrell, the home which Lord Manners had donated as a youth centre.

The pictures were submitted by reader Noreen Wooding, of Hordle, whose late father, Ken Wooding, was working at a Christchurch photographic studio when the princess visited in July 1949.

The Echo reported: “Cheering, waving crowds and hundreds of young people gave Princess Elizabeth a tremendous welcome today when, in brilliant sunshine, she opened the 50-room manor of Avon Tyrrell as a holiday centre for the National Association of Girls’ Clubs and Mixed Clubs.”

The princess was “wearing a pale green taffeta dress with three-quarter length sleeves, a white bonnet-hat trimmed with lilies of the valley, white high-heeled sandals and carrying a white handbag”.

Elizabeth told dignitaries that Britain was a “small and very crowded island” but with expanses of countryside.

“It is not easy for young people in large towns to reach the green countryside beyond. The need for homes such as this is very great indeed.

“I hope those who come here will learn something of the New Forest where the oaks grow from which our fleets were for centuries built, where the charm of the English song-birds is at its greatest and where nature can be studied undisturbed and undefiled.

“I hope, too, that Avon Tyrrell will always provide the happiness of family life and beneath its roof friendships will be made, country tastes will be formed and memories left that will last long beyond the holiday season.”

Avon Tyrrell is still going strong under the charity, now called UK Youth.

Another Echo reader, Valerie Huntington, of Springbourne, has told of meeting the Queen during her visit to Bournemouth in 2004.

Her son, Paul Havill, was special assistant to the Queen’s private secretary and arranged the visit to King’s Park, where he introduced the Queen to his family.

Valerie, 82, said: “She shook hands. She’s very gracious. She said to me, ‘He keeps busy, you know’. I said ‘Yes, ma’am, I’m sure he does’.

“She said, ‘And what’s more, he keeps me busy’. I thought, my son from little old Bournemouth keeps the Queen busy.”

New photos released to mark Queen's 90th birthday

A historic photograph of the Queen surrounded by her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren has been released to mark the monarch's 90th birthday.

Bournemouth Echo:

Captured by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, the sovereign - in the tradition of royal portraiture - holds her youngest great-grandchild Princess Charlotte in her arms.

Also appearing in the touching image is two-year-old Prince George, as well as Zara Phillips's two-year-old daughter Mia Tindall, who is proudly holding the Queen's famous black handbag, and Peter Phillips's daughters Savannah, five, and three-year-old Isla.

The Queen, who is known as Gan Gan to George and Charlotte, is also joined by the two youngest of her eight grandchildren - the Earl and Countess of Wessex's children - James, Viscount Severn, eight, who has his hands in his pockets, and Lady Louise Windsor.

Lady Louise, who was one of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's bridesmaids, is now 12 and towers above her younger relatives.

The photograph was taken in the Green Drawing Room, part of the Windsor Castle's semi-State apartments just after Easter.

Charlotte, 11 months, has a pink bow clip in her hair. She is dressed in a floral dress, pale pink tights and cardigan and appears to be holding a plastic toy horse, while perched on the lap of the Queen.

The image is one of three taken by Leibovitz to celebrate the head of state's 90th birthday.

The Queen is also pictured in an informal shot in the white drawing room at Windsor with her only daughter the Princess Royal.

Bournemouth Echo:

Anne, in a polo neck, shirt and jumper, sits close to her mother on a sofa, her arm resting behind the royal matriarch.

The third picture captures the Queen walking in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.

Bournemouth Echo:

The Queen is seen on steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden with her four dogs, her corgis Willow and Holly and dorgis Vulcan and Candy.

A relaxed-looking monarch has one had in her pale blue coat pocket as she prepares to ascend, while the dogs wait at various points on the stone steps.