Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to Milton Keynes today to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of this unique and thriving New Town - or, perhaps, not so new now! I think fifty counts as comfortably middle aged.
When my Grandmother The Queen visited the site of a new green metropolis in April 1966, no-one could have imagined that the farmland that The Queen was shown would become the vibrant, diverse, creative and community-focused centre that it is today.
The vision and ambition of the Founders of this town is to be congratulated, as well as so many of you who have made Milton Keynes the success that it is.
One of the most impressive things about MK - if I may use the locals' acronym - is that no-one lives more than a few minutes' walk from a green space - an example of wonderful foresight and planning.
One of the fears of any visionary planning a new town, is that it will somehow lack heart. Not so here - as I have seen for myself.
There is a very strong sense of community and belonging in Milton Keynes; a busy cultural, heritage and arts scene; and a focus on greenery and sustainability that is optimistic about the future. All of this makes Milton Keynes unique and I have no doubt the town will continue to thrive over the next fifty years and beyond. A very Happy Birthday to you all.
Thank you.
