The weather seemed to keep some Royal fans away as dozens of onlookers, rail staff and children clutching posies waited at Platform Three.

The eight carriage royal train pulled into the platform at 10.03am and her Majesty emerged wearing a lilac suit and hat. She was greeted by dignitaries including the mayor of Preston John Swindells and the county's chief constable Steve Finnigan.

Army cadets from Lancashire and Greater Manchester performed a guard of honour for the monarch who is visiting the county on her own.

Beverley Palfrey, 37, from Penwortham, said: "We have come to see the Queen because we little girl wanted to. We are quite excited. I found out about it last week when it was in the paper. It is nice for the Queen to come to Preston.

"I saw her in 2002 when my eldest daughter was able to give a posey to her when she came to unveil a plaque at the station."

Her daughters Megan, nine, and Holly, six, both pupils at St Teresa's Primary n Penwortham presented the Queen with Carnations.

Holly said: "It was exciting. I gave her the flowers and did a curtsey."

Megan said: "I gave the flowers to the Queen and she said 'thank you' and I said 'you're welcome'. It was fun."

The Queen was led up a ramp of the station where she was by a cortege which took her to Singleton's Dairy in Longridge.

Click on the 'Royal Visit' icon below to join in the live commentary of her visit.

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