2000s: Curve and National Space Centre

On her visit to Leicester on 1^st August 2002, The Queen, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, made her first visit to a Sikh temple – the Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurdwara in Holy Bones.

In the morning she had officially opened the National Space Centre alongside UK Astronaut Helen Sharman, the first British woman in space. During the visit The Queen got to speak to astronauts at NASA via a live video link-up.

On her visit to Leicester on 4^th December 2008, The Queen, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, was shown around two major new developments in the city including the £61 million Curve Theatre and the £32 million David Wilson Library at the University of Leicester. It had been 50 years since The Queen’s last visit to the University when, in 1958, she opened the Percy Gee Building. The Queen unveiled a plaque to officially open the Curve Theatre before the royal couple enjoyed watching various performances.

“It means a huge amount for the Queen to visit. It’s a feather in the cap for Leicester and for all the people involved it’s just so exciting” (Anthony Lawton, Leicester Theatre Trust)