A cultural feast of entertainment will await the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they visit Brighton today.

The royal train will arrive at Brighton station at 10.10am, when the couple will be greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, and the station manager before they are driven by car to the Theatre Royal Brighton in New Road.

Crowds are expected to line the streets to catch a glimpse of the Queen, who last visited the city six years ago.

The weather is expected to stay dry and mild with the chance of a light shower in the morning and thickening cloud in the afternoon.

Julia McCarthy-Fox, 42, of Millfield, Southwater, has been a fan of the Royal family for more than 25 years and will arrive outside the theatre at 8.30am to make sure she gets a good spot.

She and her ten-year-old son Zachary have travelled all over Britain and Europe to be present at 20 to 30 royal visits a year.

She said: "I have already seen her at West Newton Church on the Sandringham Estate at the beginning of February but it is lovely she is coming closer to home.

"I have been to Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta and Berlin to see her. It started when I was a student and I wanted to see how many royal visits I could do in one year.

"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.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "There will be some very brief fluid' road closures but the aim is to keep traffic moving as much as possible."

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

The Theatre Royal Brighton will be filled with local dignitaries and school children as the couple take in a concert celebrating the building's 200th anniversary.

Children from Middle Street Primary School in Middle Street, Brighton, all have Union flags, which they will be waving at the Queen as she makes her way to the theatre. And ten Year 6 pupils from St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School in Spring Street, Brighton, have received golden tickets for the performance, which they will attend with their headteacher Halden Eady.

School administrator Angela Shields said: "The children are particularly excited and Mrs Eady has also been invited to have lunch with the Queen."

Former Argus reporter Adam Trimingham will also be watching the performance before heading up to Brighton Racecourse to dine with the Queen one seat away from her.

He said: "I am a bit nervous about sitting so close to the Queen but oddly it will not be the first time I have had dinner with her.

"When she came to Brighton last time there was a lunch at the Royal Pavilion and I was sat at the next table. I asked people, what do you talk about?' and I asked if she was easy company and she is apparently - the chat flowed.

"She seemed in a very good mood that day."

Before leaving, the Queen and Prince Philip will watch a performance of the bicycle ballet in New Road from the theatre's balcony.

From the theatre, Prince Philip will walk to the Pavilion Theatre.

He will tour the building to meet arts award representatives and watch a trapeze workshop.

The Queen will arrive at the Jubilee Library in Jubilee Street by car to visit the children's library and watch a baby boogie session.

After a reception at Brighton Dome, the couple will be taken to Brighton Racecourse, where they will dine with 60 guests, including the Mayor of Brighton and Hove David Smith, Theatre Royal Brighton's chief executive Julien Boast, Brighton and Hove City Council's chief executive Alan McCarthy and Sussex Police Chief Constable Joe Edwards.

All the food has been locally sourced at the request of the Palace and the Queen and Prince Philip will enjoy a lunch of ham hock and smoked chicken terrine, followed by herb-crusted rack of South Downs lamb. They will also feast on a selection of Sussex cheeses including Bestbier Sussex Blue, which is not yet available on the open market in Sussex, Flower Marie, a soft sheep cheese made at Greenacres Farm in Golden Cross near Hailsham, and Olde Sussex, a traditional cheddartype cheese made in Stonegate, near Wadhurst.

The Duke of Edinburgh will wash his lunch down with Harveys bitter, which is brewed in Lewes.

The Royal couple will round off the day visiting community projects in Whitehawk.

Prince Philip will visit the Crew Club in Coolham Drive at 2.45pm to officially open the youth club's new building. The Queen will visit the Roundabout Children's Centre in Whitehawk Road to officially open the centre, which serves children under five and their families.

The Argus has produced Welcome to Whitehawk posters to mark the visit.

Lord Lieutenant Phyllida Stewart- Roberts said: "I am very pleased they are coming to visit. The Queen said she would very much like to come to Brighton and see again the things she saw last time. She likes to meet people of all ages and to visit different organisations.

"It means a great deal for Brighton, which is an internationally known city. I am keeping my fingers crossed the weather will be good and for a lovely day."

For more information on the Royal visit, click here.