The Queen sheltered from the rain under a see-through umbrella as she swept into the South of England Show at Ardingly today.

The crowd clapped and cheered, ignoring the gloomy weather, as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh drove into Ardingly Showground in a horse-drawn carriage.

The royal party arrived by helicopter shortly before 11am and then entered through the main gates of the showground to be greeted by wellwishers from all over the South-East.

Children from Ardingly School stood at the gates and held Union Jacks as the sovereign smiled and waved.

A mounted escort from the King's Troop and the Metropolitan Police rode alongside the Queen, who carried her umbrella in the carriage as she entered the main arena.

Visitor Gillian Slocombe from Turners Hill said: "I think she has been just stunning this Jubilee. She has been wonderful. She has been brilliant."

During the Hackney horse display, in an impromptu gesture, the Queen invited a little long-haired girl to jump over the fence and present her with a bunch of orange flowers.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, was then escorted to the main arena where she presented livestock championship awards and long-service awards to staff.

The Queen, who wore a beige raincoat, a white and blue hat and black leather boots, looked radiant as she received a posy of cream and white flowers from seven-year-old Kirsty Cuff.

Kirsty, who was dressed in a shocking pink dress and Wellington boots, said: "She asked me my name. She was very nice and she said thank you for the flowers."

Kirsty, from Ardingly, said she had been practising curtseying three to four times a day for weeks.

Her proud mother Wiz, livestock secretary for show organisers the South of England Agricultural Society, said: "It just happened so quickly. One minute the Queen was here and then she was gone.

"She is a lovely lady and it was just lovely to meet her. I was nervous and very nervous for Kirsty, hoping she would do the right thing.

"I just wanted to make sure she would not fall over in the mud."

The Queen, who is patron of the society, last visited the show in 1984.

After the presentations, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh went into the Lindfield Suite for lunch.

Later the Queen was due to enjoy a lively performance of music and dance given by children from schools across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

More pictures of the Queen's visit later today, plus a five-page picture special in The Argus tomorrow.