Fans of the royal family braved the cold weather for a chance to meet Her Majesty the Queen this afternooon.

Her Majesty in Oxford today

Royalists from across the world lined up along police barriers in Oriel Square as the Queen, led by the Lord Lieutenant Hugo Brunner, completed a short walkabout.

Dressed in lilac and looking relaxed, the Queen personally greeted members of the crowd, some of whom would be familiar faces to her as they had travelled to Oxford specially for a brief glimpse of their favourite Royal.

Marlene Leitner, of Los Angeles, said: "We told her it was a very beautiful country. She said, "I'm glad it's a dry day for you."

Melissa Worrell, aged ten, of Peel place, Oxford, handed a posy to the Queen. She said: "It's the first time I've met her, it was very exciting. I think I will remember it for the rest of my life."

Melissa, a pupil at Iffley Mead School, is a member of the Berry family, whose four generations have together given more than 110 years service to Oriel College, working as cleaners.

Melissa was among three generations of the family to meet Her Majesty, who was in Oxford to open the 2.6m Oxford University Officers Training Corp building in Oxpens.

**See Thursday's Oxford Mail for full report and picture special