The city waited in anticipation this morning ahead of the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Some people gathered around the Theatre Royal Brighton in New Road, Brighton.

Among those who had got there early was Julia McCarthy-Fox, 42, of Millfield, Southwater, and her ten-year-old son Zachary.

Mrs McCarthy has been a fan of the Royal family for more than 25 years and arrived outside the theatre at 8.30am to make sure she got a good spot.

She and Zachary have travelled all over Britain and Europe and take in 20 to 30 Royal visits a year.

She said: "It is interesting to see all the different things the Queen does and once she gets to know who you are she says 'Good morning'. I think it's nice for her to see a face she recognises when there are so many people there to see her."

Road closures will be kept to a minimum while the Queen and Prince Philip are driven by car from the train station to the Theatre Royal Brighton where she is expected to arrive at 10.15am.

Church Street will be closed for about five minutes from 10.10am to 10.15am before the couple arrive in New Road and again at 11.05am. It will also close from 11.30am to 11.35am when the Queen leaves the theatre.

Jubilee Street will close from 11am to 11.30am.

Sussex Police have drafted in more than 200 officers from across the county to police the streets and provide extra security.

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For more information on the Royal visit, click here.