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Countess opens new £20m Leeds City Museum VIDEO
THE new £20m Leeds City Museum received the royal seal of approval by HRH The Countess of Wessex ahead of today's grand opening.
Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward, joined the Lord Mayor of Leeds to tour the new museum, which includes five major galleries devoted to the history of Leeds, a large arena and four floors of exhibition space.
During her visit, the mum-of-two unveiled a plaque in the museum's Toddler Town, which is designed for children under the age of five and includes a mini version of Leeds, with a climbing and play area and interactive displays.
The Countess, who was accompanied by the leader of Leeds City Council, Coun Richard Brett and executive member for leisure, Coun John Procter, was also the first person to sign the museum's visitor book.
The new venue, in the former Civic Institute building on Millennium Square, finally opens to the public today - more than 60 years after the original Leeds Museum on Park Row was bombed during the Second World War.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun Frank Robinson said: "Everyone is hugely excited by the opening of the new Leeds City Museum, so it is fantastic to have a member of the Royal family come along and see it."
The Royal party also visited Leeds Town Hall, where the Countess was given a tour of the Cuthbert Brodrick-designed building, which was officially opened 150 years ago this week by Queen Victoria.
The Countess, who also unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit to Leeds, was shown around the Victoria Hall, the courtroom and Victorian cells, which were used to hold criminals from the 1860s.
Coun Robinson added: "Leeds Town Hall is the most iconic building in the city, and the day Queen Victoria came to open it is regarded as one of the greatest days in the history of Leeds.
"So it is a perfect symmetry that another member of the Royal family helps us to celebrate its anniversary 150 years later."
Earlier in the day, the Countess made a private visit to Caring for Life, a charity based in Cookridge, Leeds, where she is a royal patron.
• For more information on the new museum, including opening times, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/citymuseum.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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