THOUSANDS of people are expected to give the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh a right royal welcome when they tour the North-East next week.

The couple will experience at first-hand the changing face of the region as they visit it as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee tour, celebrating Her Majesty's 50-year reign.

Highlights of the visit, on Tuesday and Wednesday, include the opening of Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Durham's Millennium Place.

Throughout the two days, the couple will meet dozens of North-East couples who are celebrating their golden wedding anniversaries.

The Queen and Prince Philip will begin their tour in Sunderland, on Tuesday, with the opening of the Winter Gardens.

Later, they will meet with clergy and unveil a statue of the late Cardinal Basil Hume - the former Roman Catholic leader - at a memorial garden dedicated to him at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle.

It will be the first time since the Reformation that a reigning monarch has unveiled a statue to a Catholic leader.

Father Michael Campion, dean of the cathedral, said yesterday: "It is a unique and historic occasion, and here at the cathedral we are very grateful for this honour.

"It is an occasion of immense significance for the relationship between the Catholic Church and the rest of society, given that the Queen is the head of the Church of England."

While in County Durham on Wednesday, the Queen will visit the region's former coal mining heartland, at Easington, and will see the colliery's memorial garden, commemorating the disaster in 1951.

At Blackhall Rocks, the Queen will witness the results of the award-winning Turning the Tide initiative, which reclaimed the east Durham coastline from the ravages of coal waste-tipping. She will also unveil a commemorative waymarker on the coastal footpath.

The couple will be guests of honour for lunch at Durham Castle and will be greeted by Sir Peter Ustinov, the chancellor of Durham University.

Later, during the Queen's visit to Durham's Gala Theatre, Her Majesty will watch members of Northern Opera in rehearsal.

At Darlington, she will meet people during a walkabout in the Market Square and watch a dance performance, before unveiling a commemorative plaque.

Kingsley Smith, chief executive of Durham County Council and clerk to the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, said he was sure thousands of people would turn out to share in the Queen's Golden Jubilee visit.

"It is going to be a day to tell your grandchildren about and I am sure it will be just as memorable for the royal couple," he said.

"We know she wants to see and meet as many people as possible, and I know we will give her the sort of welcome for which the county is famous.