Thousands of people turned out for the final day of the Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, despite heavy rain over the last week turning much of the 250-acre showground into a quagmire.

And the boggy conditions - which regular show visitors said were the worst they had seen in 35 years - did not deter the Queen from shunning wellington boots as she toured the show's many attractions.

Hundreds of people gathered to applaud the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as they arrived at the show in a Range Rover and met local officials and dignitaries.

Dressed in black patent court shoes with a gold trim, a royal blue hat with a pink ribbon and a matching three-quarter length jacket, the Queen began her visit in a field, admiring the show's champion sheep and cows.

The royal visitor appeared to be unfazed when she was confronted with a 1.5-tonne champion bull, presented by Richard and Carol Rettie, of Stirling.

Mr Rettie said: "She said he was a fair size and that he looked like a lovely bull."

As she moved on through the field, the Queen was presented with posies of flowers by Evie Tomlinson, seven, and her four-year-old sister Millie, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, who both carried Union flags in honour of the royal visit.

Evie said she had taken a week off school to attend the show but that meeting the Queen was more exciting.

She said: "She was nice. She said thank you for the flowers and that they were lovely."

Hugh and Jemima Sanderson, aged seven and five, from Galphay, North Yorkshire, also presented the Queen with flowers as she walked past.
They said: "We just gave the Queen some flowers and she said 'How lovely'. She was nice and beautiful."

The Queen was due to watch a carriage-driving demonstration during her visit but the event was cancelled due to the muddy conditions in the arena.

One of the carriage drivers, Anya Mower, from Lincolnshire, said the monarch was sympathetic.

She said: "She spoke to me about the mud and about how I've got standard Shetlands who were sinking repeatedly because they've only got little legs, bless them.

"She said it was a shame the event had been cancelled and maybe we could judge them on the road instead.

"Meeting the Queen has made up for it though. She was absolutely wonderful."

After viewing the livestock, the Queen unveiled a plaque for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Regional Agricultural Centre - which has yet to be built.

Organisers built the plaque into a dry-stone wall, which will be included in the £5.1 million project when the building, comprising offices, a cafe and a farm shop, is completed.

Heather Parry, deputy chief executive for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said the Queen was very interested in the sustainable elements of the building, which is being constructed using local stone and will use sheep's wool in the walls as insulation.

Ms Parry said: "She also asked what we will be selling in the farm shop and said how important local produce is."

To see the slideshow, click here.

Earlier, a group of youngsters left the Queen in no doubt that they had gathered to see her - not the Royal Train - when she arrived in Harrogate for the Great Yorkshire Show.

As the Queen stepped from the platform at Hornbeam Park station she was greeted by youngsters from nearby Kindercare Day Nursery which adjoins the railway station.

The Queen spoke to Emma Williams from Headingley, Leeds, who works at the nursery and asked if the children had come to see the Royal Train.
"No" came the response in unison. They left the Queen in no doubt that they had come to see her.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were prepared for rain. Courtiers carried a see-through brolly for the monarch and a more traditional one for the Duke.

Although the royal couple's arrival had not been officially publicised at the station hundreds gathered to see the switch from train to a Range Rover for the short journey to the showground.

The Queen wore a Royal blue coat and matching hat, the latter decorated by an eye-catching pink ribbon.

Almost 200 pupils from nearby Oatlands Infant School in the five to six year age range were taken to see the arrival by staff from the school.
The newly-tiered garden area at the station provided a fine vantage point for the crowds at a venue gaining in royal status.

On a previous royal visit to the town the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had also used Hornbeam Park Station.