Diamond Jubilee: Queen visits Cowes and New Forest on final day

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have completed their visit to the Isle of Wight during the last day of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

The royal couple arrived on the motor yacht Leander to a 21-gun salute.

Thousands of wellwishers greeted them in Cowes where the Queen unveiled a plaque marking the visit.

On the island she also opened a new RNLI lifeboat station and launched a new lifeboat before being flown by helicopter to the New Forest.

At Cowes Yacht Haven on the island the royal party viewed displays by marine volunteer and youth organisations, including the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

'Immensely proud'

Dame Ellen's charity helps rehabilitate young people after cancer treatment by taking them sailing.

She said: "The Queen was really interested to talk to the young people and was totally engaged and interested in what we do.

"We talked about the cancer trust, what it does and the range of people we have.

"It's fantastic that the Queen has come to the Isle of Wight, and I'm immensely proud to tell her about the cancer trust."

The Queen toured the New Forest showground accompanied by show president, Alan Titchmarsh

Schoolchildren from Cowes Primary School sang a song composed by their music teacher Becky Bevan.

After performing The Nation's Crown, 10-year-old Bethany Walpole-Davis, said: "I'm so happy. I have never done anything like that before."

The Queen and Prince Philip later flew to The New Forest and Hampshire County Show near Brockenhurst.

After lunch, the royal couple toured the showground, including the "Best of British Marquee".

The food and craft exhibition had been specially put together to mark the royal visit.

The Queen also presented agricultural show awards and met members of the public at exhibits around the site.

BBC reporter Jo Palmer said the grounds were "just buzzing with excitement" during the visit.

The Queen's visit to the island and Hampshire marks the end of her Diamond Jubilee tour which began in March and has seen her involved in 83 public engagements across the UK.