The oldest resident of St Patrick's Church hostel for the homeless woke bright and early to tidy his room for the Queen yesterday.

Tommy Ogle, 66, decided to go the extra mile for the Queen's visit to the hostel and resource centre in Cambridge Road, Hove.

Mr Ogle, who helps with the maintenance and cleaning of the church, said: "My room is always tidy anyway but of course when the Queen comes to view your room you make that bit extra effort.

"She asked me about the hostel and how it was living here and I said it was good to be off the streets.

"I was very ill before I came here and the helpers were so kind and took me to the hospital."

"The Queen took an interest in what I told her, I felt very privileged."

On her arrival the Queen also met Anthony Bushell, 48, who now lives at the YMCA in North Road, Brighton.

He was busy typing out two letters when she arrived.

He said: "The Queen asked what I was doing and I replied I was improving my typing skills.

"I was so happy to meet the Queen and shake her hand, it was such a privilege to meet the wonderful lady. I almost met her once before when I worked in a restaurant but this was the real thing."

Father Alan Sharpe, 62, vicar of St Patrick's Church, who took the Queen on the tour of the hostel, said: "It went absolutely brilliantly.

"We have been preparing for it for so long that it all seemed a bit surreal to see the Queen drawing up outside the church and chatting to her.

"She seemed lovely and interacted with everyone here. It was such a proud day for us and for everyone who had contributed to the running of the hostel."

While in St Patrick's, the Queen unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit before meeting members of Trix children's club in the Lady Chapel.

Max Martin, eight, of Livingstone Road, Hove, showed the Queen a newsletter about Brighton and Hove he had been working on at the children's club.

He said: "When she looked at my work I was so happy. I can't wait to tell all my friends."

As the Queen left the church, Naomi Sylvia, nine, of Cambridge Road, presented her with a posy of bright yellow flowers.

She said: "I was so excited. I have been looking forward to the Queen's visit for weeks. As I gave her the flowers I thanked her for coming and she smiled at me. I'm so happy."

Among the crowds cheering and waving flags was one resident protesting about the cleanliness of the street.

He held up a poster saying: "It's not usually as clean as the this. Ask the rats."

Another resident, Nigel Furness, of the Brunswick area, was delighted the streets had been cleaned for the Queen's visit.

He said: "It's great they've cleaned up the streets for the Queen. I only wish they were as clean as this all the time. They have patched up a lot of the holes in the road."

After leaving St Patrick's the Queen met St John Ambulance volunteers who welcomed her into a mobile unit which provides health advice and medical treatment for the city's homeless.

Outside the mobile unit Big Issue vendor Ivan Betson, 31, sold a copy of the homeless magazine to the Queen for £1.

The Queen, who does not normally carry money, dutifully paid Mr Betson, whose normal pitch is in Ship Street, Brighton.

The Queen was given the coin by her by Lady-in-Waiting, Lady Susan Hussey.

She also talked to Big Issue vendor Kevin McKenna, 41, who has lived on the streets for two years, asking him about the significance of his identity badge.

Neil Ansell, regional manager for The Big Issue, received a call from the Queen's advisers who said she had particularly wanted to meet homeless vendors during her visit and asked him to invite members of his team.

Mr Ansell said he was pleased Mr Betson had a chance to meet the Queen because his problems highlighted how anyone can fall victim to homelessness.

He said: "I meet people from all sorts of backgrounds and talented people like Ivan who, through various circumstances and through no fault of their own, end up homeless.

"He was amazed the Queen bought a copy, but quite pleased.

"It's clear she went there with the intention of buying a magazine. It's very nice of her."

Later in the day the Queen visited Lighthouse, an arts and training organisation based at Brighton Media Centre.

There, Lily Freeman-Jones, four, presented her with a posy and complimented her on her purple coat.

Lily's mother, Caroline Freeman, who is head of film and TV at Lighthouse, said: "It was totally unscripted - they say never work with children. The Queen replied by asking Lily if she also liked her dress, to which she said yes."

Meanwhile, the Duke was shown the Lighthouse Studios where he saw extracts from a film which was short-listed for the BAFTA Best Short Animation Prize.

Co-creator Darren Etienne, showed the Duke the models used in the film.

The Duke joked that it would have been much easier if the team had used the robot creatures he had seen at the University of Sussex earlier in the day.

At the end of the day the Royal couple made their way to Shoreham Airport to return by helicopter to Buckingham Palace.

Before take-off they were greeted by scores of children from Whitehawk Primary, St Marks Primary and Downs View Special schools.

A gathering of people who also came to bid the Queen farewell included Sussex Police Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse.