Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth makes Jubilee visit

Mar 9, 2012, 13:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth began her Diamond Jubilee tour yesterday (08.03.12).

The monarch was joined by her husband Prince Philip and granddaughter-in-law Duchess Catherine as they travelled by first class train to Leicester, East Midlands, and were greeted by a 10,000-strong crowd who had been given Union Jack flags to wave when they arrived in the city.

The group did a brief walkabout outside the city's De Montfort University, much to the excitement of assembled locals.

Student Rozita Kiralova said: 'Everyone is so excited and screaming loudly,'

The queen and Catherine then watched a graduate fashion show.

Catherine - who famously wore a see-through dress when she took to the catwalk as a student - told university chancellor Lord Waheed Alli: 'I've been to a fashion show before.'

The entrepreneur - who is chairman of fashion website ASOS - said of the exchange:

'I told her, I know, I saw it on the news this morning,'

Meanwhile, Philip observed a display of robot wars on another part of the university campus.

The four-hour visit also saw the royal party attend a multi-faith cathedral service and enjoy lunch at St. Martin's House, where they were served local lamb prepared by chefs from the nearby Maiyango restaurant.

The visit was the first of 20 awaydays to be undertaken by the queen this year as she marks 60 years on the throne.

The main focus of the jubilee celebrations will be over the weekend of 2-5 June.