Queen Elizabeth visits the set of Coronation Street in celebration of the show's 60th birthday

Queen Elizabeth II has visited the set of Coronation Street to mark the long-running television soap's 60th birthday.

The monarch was all smiles as she met veteran cast and crew of the show, walked along the storied cobbled street and visited the studio where the interior of the Rovers Return pub is filmed.

It was the second time the 95-year-old has visited Coronation Street — the first time was in the early '80s, at the show's original studios in Manchester.

She told the cast it was "really marvellous you've been able to carry on" during the pandemic, and took time to chat to backstage staff, including writers, camera operators, set designers and sound engineers.

The show, which focuses on the lives of residents of the fictional northern English town of Weatherfield, is the world's longest-running drama series.

READ MORE:
• Coronation Street's Alan Halsall shows off his impressive weight loss
• Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has revealed the real reason behind quitting after 13 years

"She just smiles. She listens, she always has and she loves to be made to laugh," actor William Roache said. "I've been lucky to meet her quite a few times and she's always charming, and a laugh is never far away."

As a souvenir as she left the set, the Queen was presented with a "Corrie Cobble" from the original set, specially engraved by a local stonemason, and some Newton & Ridley beer mats.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.