Crowds turn out for The Queen

Crowds of people old and young turned out in their thousands to welcome the Queen to Welshpool town centre.

Many had waited for up to three hours to ensure they had a front-row view of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh after their visit to the farmers' market in the town hall.

See more photos of the Queen's visit to Welshpool

Also: Photos of royal visit to Welshpool

There they met stallholders and were presented with a basket of goodies from producers on both sides of the Powys/Shropshire border.

As the royal couple emerged from the historic building, young members of Welshpool High School's jazz band struck up a medley of numbers.

The crowds cheered as the Queen signed a special visitors' book and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Posy

Queen's Guide 25-year-old Rebecca Martin, of Welshpool, presented a beautiful posy of white roses and freesias to Her Majesty.

But that was only the first of dozens of floral tributes to be handed to the royal couple, along with handpainted Welsh flags and pictures from the hundreds of schoolchildren who had been given time off to be there.

Among them was eight-year-old Molly Lloyd-Davies, from Berriew Primary School, who gave the Queen a bunch of roses.

"She said 'thank you very much'," said Molly, who added: "It was very exciting."

As the Duke of Edinburgh strolled down one side of the street and chatted to numerous people, the Queen took the other side of the street as the royal couple went walk-about for the length of Welshpool's Broad Street.

Resplendent

Groups of older people who caught the royal pensioner's eye included a detachment of St John Ambulance members and members of the Welshpool and District branch of the Royal British Legion, who were resplendent in their uniforms and medals.

Beryl Lewis, of Newtown, who is deputy commissioner for St John Ambulance in Mid Wales, said that Her Majesty had commented to her: "What a wonderful day and what a wonderful turnout."

John Gwilt, president of the Welshpool branch RBL, who had served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany during World War II, said he had explained to The Queen who they all were and added he was very proud to have met the royal patron of the legion at last.

Next in line for a royal chat and smile was one of Welshpool's oldest residents, 104-year-old Peggy Davies, who handed over a bunch of garden flowers she had been clutching.

Jane Humphreys, manager of Llys Hafren Residential Home in Welshpool, where Peggy lives, said: "The Queen thanked Peggy very much for them and said they were very beautiful but had to tell her she should hand them over now!"

Excitement

A young family from Oswestry, Mike and Claire Foulkes with their children Jessie, four, and James, nine months, also caught The Queen's eye, much to their excitement.

Also singled out for a comment was Gwenda Jones, 77, who had waited for a long time with Catherine Jones and friend Jessie Williams, 85, from Welshpool. "It was worth waiting for – I could weep – but I can't remember what she said," said Gwenda.

The walk-about ended at The Royal Oak Hotel where the royal couple were having lunch with about 30 guests. They had been invited by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, Mrs Shan Legge-Bourke.

The lunch menu included a main course of poached fillet of salmon in a cucumber and dill sauce served with Jersey Royal new potatoes that was followed by a glazed bramley apple tarte and local honeycomb icecream.