ITV Corrie legend William Roache says he 'fell in love' with the Queen

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Coronation Street legend William Roache says he 'fell in love' with Her Majesty the Queen from the moment he first met her. The Corrie icon met Queen Elizabeth II on several occasions.

William, best known for playing Ken Barlow in Britain's longest running soap since its first episode on December 9 1960, has described the first time he met the monarch when he was based in Jamaica as a young officer with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

At the time the Queen and her husband Prince Philip were on the longest Commonwealth Tour lasting from November 1953 to May 1954. "She was so beautiful," William explained in an ITV interview. "I fell in love with her as a person and as an individual. "I don't know whether that was heresy or something, but she is just a very comforting person to be with." READ MORE: Channel 4 Bake Off will return to screens as scheduled The Queen visited the set of Coronation Street twice during her 70 year reign, the first time at its original studios in at Granada Studios in Quay Street, Manchester in 1982 and again in 2021 at its current set at Trafford Wharf.

William, who celebrated his 90th birthday in April, says she hasn't changed. "Her eyes were beautiful blue and very alert", he said. "And she didn't wear glasses - but there was no difference.