Queen Visits Surrey

The Queen celebrated the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Guildford Cathedral today at a service of thanksgiving for the religious building.

In 1961 the monarch and Duke of Edinburgh were present at the ceremony that saw the place of worship formally consecrated.

The royal couple returned to the cathedral in Surrey to celebrate the building with its community and meet local groups, clergy and schoolchildren from the area.

The construction of the cathedral was a drawn-out process as it was halted during the Second World War and costs increased, leading to a renewed fundraising campaign.

A buy-a-brick initiative - where the items were sold at 12-and-half pence - proved a success and the Queen, like other supporters, had her name inscribed on a brick.

The Bishop of Guildford, the Right Reverend Christopher Hill, hosted the visit, which also saw the royal couple meet groups like the Mothers' Union and the Street Angels, who provide help for homeward-bound clubbers in a number of Surrey towns.

Later, the Queen and Duke travelled to East Surrey College's new campus in Redhill where the monarch will formally open the site.

After arriving at the £63 million Gatton Point campus, the royal couple met senior staff and students before having lunch.

The sovereign and Philip and senior college staff dined on forest mushrooms on toast followed by saddle of roe deer, with Sussex pond pudding with Jersey cream for dessert.

This afternoon, students will be on hand to demonstrate their new-found skills for the royals.

Trainee bricklayers and mechanics will be showing off their construction and car repair techniques.

A gallery of creative works from the Reigate School of Art, Design and Media will also be exhibited.

In the hair, beauty and spa areas of Gatton Point, young people will be creating displays of theatrical make-up for the monarch, and Duke.

The campus in Redhill features a two-storey learning resource centre for group and self-study, an oval auditorium, salons and spa, a range of technology workshops, recording studios, sports hall and a fitness room.