Eyebrows may have been raised during the Queen's visit to Ripon yesterday at the apparel worn by the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, Della Cannings.

She was wearing the old fashioned last-generation uniform as ceremonial dress rather than the modern national uniform.

Earlier this year one of her senior officers was berated by the Duke of York for wearing his national uniform fleece at a royal visit in Thirsk.

And this week it emerged the Duke had sent a written apology to the officer concerned after the Chief Constable wrote to remonstrate with him for his public remarks.

She had made it clear in the past that she was not prepared to waste public money on ceremonial uniforms.

However, yesterday she said she was wearing the old-style uniform to highlight the recent re-opening of Ripon Law and Order Museum - where many old police artefacts were on show.

She said she also wanted to pay tribute to the individuals whose hard work had led to the museum's extensive refurbishment.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed a 20-minute walkabout in Ripon market square.

Her Majesty chatted to local residents and received gifts and bouquets of flowers from an appreciative crowd of several hundred.

The Royal party were invited to the North Yorkshire town to mark the 400th anniversary of two Royal Charters granted by King James I.

The Queen unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and briefly appeared on the balcony of the town hall, where she waved to the crowd. Later, the royal couple had lunch with guests in the town hall.