Britain's Queen Elizabeth attended a Mad Hatters tea party yesterday (01.05.12).
The monarch - who donned a bright pink outfit, including matching hat, for the event at Sherborne Abbey - was particularly thrilled to meet a local resident with a group of Corgis, the breed of dog she herself owns, decked out in red, white and blue collars.
One onlooker said: "She seemed to be very happy - then saw the dogs and burst out in an even bigger smile. She must really miss all her dogs when she is travelling."
The queen - accompanied by her husband Prince Philip - met with local school children at the party, which took place in a marquee on the lawn in the Abbey's grounds.
Leah McGarry, eight, was chosen to give flowers to the queen and was "really excited" by the honour.
The youngster - who was dressed as Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland' - said: "I feel really excited that I was chosen to hand over the flowers to the queen.
"I handed her the flowers and she said 'Is that for me?' and 'Thank you'."
Hundreds of people braved the rain to turn out and greet the royal couple as they began a series of engagements in Dorset and Wiltshire as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.
After the tea party, the queen was shown around a food fair in Sherborne, and met People's Millions award-winners, while Philip went inside Sherborne Abbey and viewed an exhibition of local artisans.
The pair then travelled to Digby Memorial Hall where they attended a 1952 themed coffee morning with guests and staff from residential homes across Dorset.
They then returned to the station by car to travel to Salisbury on the Royal Train.
