​THE QUEEN and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited staff at Plymouth’s Wrigley’s factory.

The royal couple toured the Estover plant to help workers celebrate the 40th birthday of the factory.

They were on a whistle-stop tour of Devon and spent about an hour at Wrigley’s. The factory was officially opened by the Duke 38 years ago.

The Queen and Duke met staff and members of the charitable arm of the company.

They also visited the ‘quality room’ and the health centre before unveiling a plaque commemorating the visit in the restaurant.

The visit this afternoon began with a colourful greeting from pupils of Estover Community and Leigham primary schools at the doors to the factory.

The Queen was dressed all in purple, with the Duke in a suit.

Lord Mayor Cllr Ken Foster and Lady Mayoress Cllr Wendy Foster also met the royal couple.

After the plaque was unveiled, the Duke asked the Lord Mayor if he had eaten Wrigley’s products before.

Cllr Foster replied that he used to – but not any more.

Staff at Wrigley’s, which employs more than 550 people throughout the UK, said there had been a ‘buzz’ around the visit.

About 50 redundancies were made at the factory last year. Receptionist Janet Keeble, who has worked at the factory for 21 years, said the visit was a ‘morale boost’.

On June 9, 1972, the Western Morning News reported that the Duke of Edinburgh visited Wrigley’s on a ‘fleeting two-and-a-half hour visit’ to Plymouth.

The report said he was led to the roof of the factory and shown a panoramic view of the estate.

Bosses said it was ‘fantastic’ for him to visit again.

Mixing operator Gordon Cook, 51, who has been at the factory for 20 years, said: “When they originally called me in to say the Queen was coming, I didn’t expect it!”

Ian Burton, managing director of Wrigley in the UK and Republic of Ireland, said, following the visit: “It was a very proud moment for us – for Wrigley’s and Plymouth.”

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