8 March 2012 Last updated at 20:42

In pictures: Queen begins Diamond Jubilee tour

Diamond Jubilee picture galleries

The Queen (c), the Duke of Edinburgh (r) and the Duchess of Cambridge at St Pancras Station

The Queen caught a train from London's St Pancras station to Leicester, the first stop on the monarch's Diamond Jubilee tour.

The Queen was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, and the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Queen arrives at Leicester Cathedral

The Queen will be touring parts of the UK until 25 July to mark her 60 years on the throne.

Children carrying union jack flags wait for the royals

Crowds of well-wishers greeted the royals in Leicester, some standing nine-deep on the pavements.

The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge watched a fashion show by graduates at De Montfort University.

A crowd outside Leicester Cathedral broke into a rendition of God Save the Queen as the service, attended by the Queen, finished.

The Duchess of Cambridge greeted well-wishers and gathered flowers for the Queen, Prince Philip and herself. She was also presented with a red rose for her husband, Prince William, who is away on RAF duty overseas.

The Queen wore a cerise cashmere dress and coat with black trim - and matching hat - by designer Angela Kelly.

Wellwishers Janet Sanders from Wellingborough and Jennifer Shenton from Blaby

Some of those gathered to see the Queen had been waiting for hours. BBC correspondents said there was a "celebratory mood" in the city.

One of the scouts who met the Duchess of Cambridge said she wanted to know about "uniforms and stuff". "It was exciting to meet her, I was quite nervous," 17-year-old scout Eden Fowler said.

Dozens of bystanders take photos of the Duchess of Cambridge at Leicester Station

Despite huge public interest in Prince William's wife, correspondents said the Duchess of Cambridge would be learning from Prince Philip and taking a backseat role on the visit.