Recent days have been among the toughest in her reign after the passing and funeral of her beloved husband Prince Philip.
Today, as she marks her 95th birthday, we send our heartfelt best wishes with a reflection on her visits to Hartlepool and East Durham over the years.
She visited Hartlepool in 1977 and 1993 and was a welcome visitor to Easington in 2002 and Peterlee in 1960.
Did you get to meet her and what do you remember of the occasion? Perhaps you can spot someone you know in one of our photos.
Browse through this photo collection as we pay tribute to the Queen.
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