The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have given a royal seal of approval to Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.
As a curtain-raiser to the main summer programme of events in 2008 the royal couple spent a day attending engagements in the city.
Her Majesty performed the official opening of the Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre. She was also entertained at the Philharmonic Hall and St George's Hall and attended a civic lunch.
Building work continued at Liverpool One as Prince Phillip performed a topping-out ceremony on the latest stage of the £1b complex.
The first phase of Grosvenor Group shopping and leisure complex is due to open for business next Thursday with the launch of a new John Lewis department store.
The Duke of Westminster's company Grosvenor say 77% of the space is already earmarked for occupation, dimissing concerns that it could be hit by the downturn in the high stree retail market.
Joanna Jennings, Liverpool One Chief Executive, said: "Grosvenor is here very much for the longer term.
"Their partnership with council is over a 250-year period, so clearly short-term market conditions affect Liverpool One much less than it might do for other schemes."
Liverpool One features five acres of green open space - a proviso of the planning permission to build on what had been public open space.
The land had been a huge bomb site and later a car park after WWII. But in the 1980s it was grassed and laid-out with paved walkways and named Chavasse Park.
During construction of Liverpool One the remanants of the historic 18th Century Manchester Dock were unearthed and excavated and recorded by a team of archeologists.
During the visit Prince Phillip also attended a reception at the Royal Mersey Yacht Club in Rock Ferry, of which he is patron.
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