Being home to the Palace of the Peak, it will come as no surprise to many that Derbyshire can boast strong royal connections down the centuries. The woman behind the building of both Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall, Bess of Hardwick, was one of the most important figures in Elizabethan society, mixing in the very highest royal circles. Over the years, Derbyshire's great houses, lived in by members of the nobility, have played host to many royal visitors, even including those from overseas.

In more recent years, Derby has welcomed the Queen to several important occasions, most notably when the town became a city as part of the monarch's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. She was following in the footsteps of her mother and father who made morale-boosting visits to the area during the Second World War. Were you in the crowds that witnessed these and other royal visits? What are your memories? Have you ever met a member of the royal family, past or present? Why not write about your experiences?