PICTURES: Remembering The Queen as she touched the hearts of thousands during visits to the Highlands and Islands

Her Majesty The Queen made several visits to the Highlands and Islands during her time on the throne – touching the hearts of hundreds of people she met and thousands who had the chance to see her in person.

Among her significant acts while here was opening the new multimillion-pound Raigmore Hospital in Inverness in 1985, including its eight-story ward tower.

In 2009, she went to the new Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, making history as the first reigning monarch to visit the site since the battle took place more than 263 years previously.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, she toured the exhibition and met staff who talked her through aspects of the state-of-the-art displays.

Family put at ease by immaculately-dressed Queen

Other visits included trips to Nairn, Alness, Grantown and Portree.

Thanks to Am Baile, Highland Archive Centre, National Trust for Scotland and Northern Scot for these images.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.