The Queen enjoyed a 20-minute walkabout in Ripon's market square today.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh 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 historic 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.

The Queen and the Duke were due to have lunch with distinguished guests in the town hall before leaving.

In Halifax, an 11-year-old pupil presented the Queen with a posy - after he had looked at a coin to see who she was.

The Queen toured Halifax High School, in West Yorkshire, as part of a royal visit to the region.

Wearing an aquamarine floral dress, coat and hat, she smiled and waved at crowds of cheering pupils as she arrived at the school this morning.

Abbas Ali, a year seven pupil at the school, had been chosen to present the white roses to the royal visitor.

He said: ''I had to look at a coin to recognise her. I was worried I would get the wrong person.

''I will remember it till I die.''

The Queen then watched a performance of a scene from Macbeth and looked at plans for the school's new building, which will be based at the former barracks of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

She also presented year 11 pupils with their records of achievement and gave a member of staff a long service award before leaving to visit the Piece Hall in Halifax.

The Queen arrived in the open-air square, which was decorated with bunting, in a maroon Bentley to the cheers of the flag-waving crowds. She was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh as they met local business representatives before taking their seats in the audience to watch a performance by a youth group.

The Queen met members of the public before leaving Halifax for another appointment in Ripon, North Yorkshire, where she will visit a market place.