The Duke of Edinburgh appeared to have shaken off his heart scare after confidently striding to and from a service at Sandringham Church this morning.

The 90-year-old royal, donning a long brown coat, set a good pace as he led a small group of 12 people, including legendary racing driver Jackie Stewart, from Sandringham House to get to the service.

The sight of Prince Philip walking to church after surgery last month at Papworth Hospital, in Cambridgeshire, delighted the crowd of around 300 people who lined part of the route and cheered at the sight of the Royal.

King's Lynn resident Megan Ford, 57, said: 'For someone who has not long been out of hospital, he looked remarkably healthy and was smiling and saying good morning to everyone.'

The large crowd then turned their attention to the arrival of the Queen who travelled to St Mary Magdalene Church by car.

Children and their parents waved vigorously as the Queen's car arrived just before 11am and after leaving the vehicle, the Royal turned and waved to the applauding crowd.

Following the service, 36 children queued and waited patiently to give flowers to the Queen, who was wearing a matching purple coat and hat.

The last child to present flowers to the reigning monarch was three-year-old Grace Miller. The youngster was taken to Sandringham by her father Peter and grandmother Sue Miller, who is chairman of Watlington Parish Council.

Mrs Miller said: 'Grace was really excited to get the chance to meet the Queen and give her flowers.

'I don't really know why she was so excited because I didn't realise she knew who the Queen was but on Saturday night she was so excited and practised her curtsey with her grandad.

'Our only concern was what she was going to say to the Queen. For some strange reason she told me she was going to ask her if she had nits but thankfully she didn't say that.'

The church service was led by the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith. Hymns during the service included O' Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness, Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun, and Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning.

A collection was also taken during the service in aid of the Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House.