You could have cut the excitement with a knife at the village hall, as the ladies of the WI prepared to slice the home-made cakes for two very special visitors.

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

For the Queen - who remains a member to this day - and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother were about to drop by.

Pictured some time in the 1970s, the Royal duo would attend a meeting each February, while they were resident at Sandringham.

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

The monarch still attends a meeting of the WI each year at West Newton's modest village hall, where portraits of her ancestors look down as Jerusalem is sung and proceedings get under way.

Then, as now, the Royal visitor would give a talk outlining the highklights of the previous year, donate a prize to the raffle and watch a brief charade or play performed by members, accompanied by home-made cake and lashings of tea.

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

MORE - Queen enjoys annual visit to the WI

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant libraryThe Queen and Queen Mother at Sandringham, WI. Picture: Archant library (Image: Archant)