Diamond Jubilee: Queen visits three London boroughs

The Queen was greeted by thousands of residents in Redbridge

The Queen has received a rapturous welcome from thousands of London residents during her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

Schoolchildren, parents and pensioners waved union jacks as the monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Valentine Mansion, in Redbridge, east London.

The royal couple then went on visit Waltham Forest and Harrow.

Tory leader of Redbridge Council Keith Prince said the Queen's visit was a "great privilege and honour".

When the royal couple first arrived, they were greeted with a huge cheer and the Queen and duke walked along a path to the mansion stopping briefly to meet some of the well-wishers.

Some of the residents welcomed the Queen by decorating their houses with large flags and bunting, hung from rooftops.

'Good humour'

Philip showed that despite his recent health problems he had lost none of his blunt sense of humour when he joked with a disabled man about his mode of transport.

He walked up to David Miller, 60, and gesturing to the four-wheeled mobility scooter he was sitting on, he asked "how many people have you knocked over this morning on that thing?".

Mr Miller, a trustee of a charitable trust that runs the Valentine mansion, has difficulties walking, due to a spinal problem.

He said later: "That is just typical from the duke. He is renowned for his humour but no offence was taken, it was all in good humour.

"I told him 'no, your Royal Highness' - I had not knocked anyone down."

At the 17th Century house, they viewed paintings by artists including Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and David Hockney.

As the Queen left the building, she came across artist Jason Rose painting a portrait of his teenage son in the lobby.

She asked his son if he had a day off school and when he said he did, she asked: "Why are you wearing your school uniform?"

The 14-year-old made her laugh when he said: "I managed to get the day off because I told them I would wear my uniform."

Catering courses

Before leaving, the Queen opened Valentines Diamond Jubilee Dry Garden - laid with plants that need little watering - surrounded by cheering crowds.

Crowds gathered at Valentine Mansion in Redbridge

The Queen and duke then went to Waltham Forest Town Hall for a lunch attended by mayors from the 32 boroughs and the City of London.

In Walthamstow, crowds of at least 2,500 schoolchildren gathered in the sunshine to meet the Queen.

She talked to 28-year-old British kickboxing champion Ruqsana Begum, who trains in Bethnal Green, in east London, and will be carrying the Olympic flame this summer.

The kickboxer said later: "The Queen asked me if it's painful. I said it is but you don't feel it because of the adrenaline."

The silver service lunch was prepared by Indian chef Cyrus Todiwala, assisted by cooks from top London hotels and served by students from catering courses from across the capital.

Business leaders, community workers and religious leaders also dined.

Later, the royal couple were cheered by on by 1,500 Harrow residents, including 400 members of uniformed bands including Scouts and Air Cadets.

They visited the Krishna Avanti School where they viewed dance and musical performances by schoolchildren and local groups.