The Queen stopped to buy a Big Issue magazine on her whirlwind tour of Brighton and Hove today.

The royal visitor had £1 at the ready when she called at the Brighthelm Centre in Church Street, Brighton, to greet St John Ambulance volunteers and Big Issue sellers.

Earlier, the Queen and Prince Philip arrived in Sussex to be greeted by scores of children from schools across the county.

Each pupil clutched a plastic Union Jack as the maroon royal helicopter made a slow descent at Shoreham Airport.

The crowd whooped and cheered when the Queen stepped out into the showery spring day basked in a ray of sunshine.

She wore a deep purple coat with a diamond brooch, a matching hat and black shoes and handbag.

She was greeted by Clerk to the Lieutenant Tony Feek, Andrew Stewart-Roberts, Vice Lord Lieutenant Peter Fields and Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse.

Before she walked to the car waiting to whisk her off on a whirlwind tour of Brighton and Hove the Queen greeted some of the children waiting to meet her.

She talked to children from Goldstone Junior School and Knoll Infant School in Hove.

Paris Gibbs, 11, from Whitehawk, was there from Hillside Special School. She said: "I'm so excited, I've never seen anyone from the Royal Family before."

Amy Johnson, ten, of Aldrington Church of England Primary School, said: "My mum really wishes she could see the Queen, too."

The Queen went by car to St Patrick's Church in Hove, where she was welcomed by crowds who lined Cambridge Road and Western Road.

The Queen visited the hostel and education project for the homeless.

Government homelessness tsar Louise Casey said: "The Queen was great. She said she thought the education project was a brilliant thing and thought it great people were getting training and helping them to get a better education and jobs.

"I explained we were not just providing hostel accommodation, we were doing a lot more and she said this was a good idea.

"She talked to Kris Ellis, one of the homeless hostel residents, about the website he is making for the hostel.

"Some of the other men told her about jobs they were applying for."

Mr Ellis said: "I was a bit nervous. I can't remember everything she said because I just went on to automatic."

Gary Kiley, another resident, said: "Father Alan Sharpe has worked really hard on this project. Six years ago there were only six mattresses on the floor of the hostel. He really deserves the Queen's recognition."

The Queen moved on to the church where she met children from the youth club.

Jacqueline Sylvia, who runs the youth club called Trix, said: "There were about 15 children queuing and some of their mothers and the Queen spoke to all of them."

At the St John Ambulance Sussex Homeless Project mobile health unit outside Brighthelm United Reformed Church in Church Street the Queen paid her £1 to Big Issue seller Ivan Betson.

Mr Betson, 21, whose regular patch is in Ship Street, presented the Queen with a commemorative issue of the homeless magazine.

Mr Betson said: "She said it was a very informative magazine and did a good job. I said it helps us earn an income.

"I sold none this morning so she was my first customer."

He vowed to keep the £1 coin which the Queen had in her hand before she paid for the magazine.

Meanwhile the Duke of Edinburgh was at the University of Sussex at Falmer to visit the Sussex Innovation Centre and the multi-faith Meeting House.

The royal couple met up again at a reception at the Corn Exchange and had lunch at the Royal Pavilion before a short walkabout.