Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Scarborough where she opened the newly-restored Open Air Theatre in Northstead Manor Gardens, which is the largest outdoor theatre in Europe.
THE Queen joined an audience of more than 6,500 people this morning to enjoy an open-air theatre performance in Scarborough.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen officially opened the resort's Open Air Theatre in front of a cheering crowd gathered in the sun.
Wearing a floral dress, with a matching turquoise coat and hat, adorned with a magenta flower, the Queen watched as local theatre groups performed song and dance routines and a specially written play about Scarborough's history.
The royal party arrived in the North Yorkshire town this morning by train before being driven to the new theatre in Northstead Manor Gardens.
The Queen met local dignitaries and was handed a posy of flowers by six-year-old Sophie Bellringer, whose father Tom is a sewage treatment engineer for event sponsors Yorkshire Water.
Speaking afterwards, Sophie said: "I was a bit nervous but she was very nice. All my friends at school are jealous.
"When I gave her the flowers, she said, 'Are those for me? How beautiful'."
Sophie's mother, Michelle, said her daughter had been "bursting with excitement" at the prospect of meeting the Queen.
The performance was hosted by comedy entertainer Tony Peers and featured violinist Victoria Yellop, a dance routine by youngsters from the Hatton School of Performing Arts and a song duet by Linda Newport and Alex Weatherhill.
The main performance was a play called Grains Of Sand involving 223 performers aged from four to 72 years old.
Performer Vee Shrimpton, 72, described the experience as "a dream come true", while Dan Hendley, who played the lead role, said: "It's an amazing opportunity to perform in front of The Queen and the people of Scarborough."
The Queen sat on a lakeside platform as she watched the acts perform and laughed when Mr Peers made a joke about the dancers' turquoise catsuits clashing with her outfit.
After officially opening the picturesque theatre by unveiling a plaque, the Queen smiled and waved at the audience as they held aloft Union flags and gave three cheers.
The royal party left the theatre to visit the new Hares Leap farm shop before travelling to Cloughton, where they will have lunch at the Blacksmith's Arms, one of the Queen's Duchy properties.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Scarborough to greet the royal couple this morning.
Bunting and Union flags were displayed outside homes and businesses and one children's nursery hung a banner welcoming the Queen to the town.
A large security operation was set up prior to the historic royal visit, the first to the resort since July 1975.
Jim Dillon, chief executive of Scarborough Borough Council, said: "This truly is an historic event of the highest magnitude for a borough that has a tradition of entertainment and attracting many generations of visitors and I am sure it will be a very memorable day for everyone involved.
"The theatre will enhance the area's reputation as one of the best places to live or visit in the country and as an international destination for high quality entertainment."
Wearing a floral dress, with a matching turquoise coat and hat, adorned with a magenta flower, the Queen watched as local theatre groups performed song and dance routines and a specially written play about Scarborough's history.
The royal party arrived in the North Yorkshire town this morning by train before being driven to the new theatre in Northstead Manor Gardens.
The Queen met local dignitaries and was handed a posy of flowers by six-year-old Sophie Bellringer, whose father Tom is a sewage treatment engineer for event sponsors Yorkshire Water.
Speaking afterwards, Sophie said: "I was a bit nervous but she was very nice. All my friends at school are jealous.
"When I gave her the flowers, she said, 'Are those for me? How beautiful'."
Sophie's mother, Michelle, said her daughter had been "bursting with excitement" at the prospect of meeting the Queen.
The performance was hosted by comedy entertainer Tony Peers and featured violinist Victoria Yellop, a dance routine by youngsters from the Hatton School of Performing Arts and a song duet by Linda Newport and Alex Weatherhill.
The main performance was a play called Grains Of Sand involving 223 performers aged from four to 72 years old.
Performer Vee Shrimpton, 72, described the experience as "a dream come true", while Dan Hendley, who played the lead role, said: "It's an amazing opportunity to perform in front of The Queen and the people of Scarborough."
The Queen sat on a lakeside platform as she watched the acts perform and laughed when Mr Peers made a joke about the dancers' turquoise catsuits clashing with her outfit.
After officially opening the picturesque theatre by unveiling a plaque, the Queen smiled and waved at the audience as they held aloft Union flags and gave three cheers.
The royal party left the theatre to visit the new Hares Leap farm shop before travelling to Cloughton, where they will have lunch at the Blacksmith's Arms, one of the Queen's Duchy properties.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Scarborough to greet the royal couple this morning.
Bunting and Union flags were displayed outside homes and businesses and one children's nursery hung a banner welcoming the Queen to the town.
A large security operation was set up prior to the historic royal visit, the first to the resort since July 1975.
Jim Dillon, chief executive of Scarborough Borough Council, said: "This truly is an historic event of the highest magnitude for a borough that has a tradition of entertainment and attracting many generations of visitors and I am sure it will be a very memorable day for everyone involved.
"The theatre will enhance the area's reputation as one of the best places to live or visit in the country and as an international destination for high quality entertainment."
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