Royal couple greeted by small crowd at West Norfolk church
The Queen and Prince Philip braved the bitter east wind and icy conditions to attend church at Castle Rising this morning.
Wearing a turquoise suit and matching hat, the Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the couple walked from the historic lych gate at St Lawrence Church on a path cleared from snow and ice.
A small crowd of well-wishers had gathered to greet her in freezing temperatures as she was met by Lord Greville Howard, whose family estate is set in the West Norfolk village.
The Rev Jonathan Riviere took the service which lasted just under an hour.
The wintry conditions were a novelty for a couple of visitors who waited to present flowers to the Queen after the service.
Emily Fenton and Siobhan Butler, both 17, arrived from midsummer in Australia last Tuesday to spend a gap year in Norfolk at Hunstanton's Glebe House School.
'I have never seen snow before, so it's a real novelty. I've never seen the queen either so I'm pleased to be here,' said Siobhan.
'I missed seeing Prince Charles when he was in Tasmania last year, I couldn't get to the front of the crowd in time,' said Emily.
But both girls were among a group of ten youngsters who presented flowers and gifts at the gate as the Queen's party left church.
Sisters Evie and Isabelle Cobb, aged six and two, both painted pictures of a castle and Evie handed-them to the Queen.
Her proud grandparents Diane and John Cobb, of West Lynn, said they had seen the Queen before at church but this was the first time Evie had presented a gift.
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