IT was the day when Glasgow's innovative 'Miles Better' campaign won the Royal wave of approval.

It was July 1, 1983. And, not surprisingly, given that it was a Glasgow summer, a light rain was falling. But nothing could quite mar a day of joy.

Thousands of people crowded into George Square, waiting for the Queen to emerge from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce offices, where she mingled with nearly 1,500 guests at a champagne reception.

As she strolled across the square, the monarch was introduced to nearly 120 people.

She disappeared into the City Chambers - but not for long.

To the delight of the crowd, she appeared on the balcony in the company of Lord Provost Dr Michael Kelly, and waved.

Prominent beneath them was a huge, distinctive sign reading 'Glasgow's Miles Better'.

A band in the square played 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' when the royal party walked through that drizzle.

On that same visit, the Queen visited the Evening Times' then offices in Albion Street, to help mark the bicentenary of our sister paper, The Glasgow Herald - the oldest national newspaper in the English-speaking world.

It was a day when even hardened journalists were left star-struck.

In October that year, the Queen returned to Glasgow for another high-profile visit - this time to open the Burrell Gallery.

Her visit to the £20 million facility deep within the chestnut and sycamore trees of Pollok Park went without a hitch.

The monarch told the assembled guests that she was "delighted" to have the chance of an early sight of the magnificent bequest left by Sir William Burrell, one of the great collectors of modern times.

In July 1996, the Queen made the latest in her long line of visits to Scotland's largest city when she opened the Gallery of Modern Art in - of course - Queen Street.

Glasgow Museums director Julian Spalding first conducted the Queen to the Fire gallery in the bowels of the building.

The Queen, dressed in a cerise wool coat and matching straw hat, was met in the Fire gallery by Cyberwoman, whose job is to prepare visitors for "a very new and exciting experience."

From there she passed to Canadian-born Michael Hayden's Fibre Optic Light Sculpture.

As she walked through the sculpture she was entirely surrounded by a tunnel of fibre optic rods that continually change colour.

The Queen hesitated and looked somewhat apprehensive.

"You don't have to go through it if you don't want to,'' Mr Spalding told her. "Oh, no, I would like to,'' the monarch replied and immediately followed the director through the tunnel.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh seemed on slightly firmer ground when they walked through GoMA's Air gallery, which Mr Spalding cheerfully described as 'heaven'.

As the Queen left after a one-hour tour, an ebullient Mr Spalding said: "Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden told the Queen that everyone leaves the gallery smiling. She said: 'Well, I'm smiling. I've really enjoyed myself'."

Three years later, in July 1999, the Queen returned to Glasgow to honour the city's position as 1999 UK City of Architecture and Design.

She opened The Lighthouse, which had once been part of the former offices of The Herald.

The striking building was designed by Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The Queen enjoyed a panoramic view of Glasgow from the top of the century-old building, where a glass room overlooks the busy city centre.

Later, the Queen visited the Buchanan Galleries, the £240m shopping centre, which had opened a few months earlier.

Crowds had gathered outside, despite the rain, and people broke off from their shopping to give her a welcoming cheer.

On her tour she went into the Thorntons Chocolate Shop, where she met manager Kirsty Wandrum and was presented with a hand-made chocolate lace casket.

The Queen also presented the Buchanan Galleries' Shopmobility scheme with a powered scooter worth £2,500.