Queen throws garden party for London 2012 stars
Olympians, Paralympians and celebrities mingled with guests invited from all over the UK at a Buckingham Palace garden party hosted by the Queen today.
The Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who has recovered from the illness, along with the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
They were joined by TV presenter Clare Balding and Sherlock Holmes actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
The Queen wore a pink, green and turquoise silk dress designed by Karl Ludwig, underneath a pale green coat by Angela Kelly, with a hat in matching colours.
Some 8,000 people took afternoon tea at the party, the last of three to be held this summer in the grounds of the royal residence.
Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir John Peace was introduced to the Queen as she made her way through the gardens. He said: "It never ceases to amaze me how knowledgeable she is about all the different areas of this great country."
Sir John added that Prince Philip had been "telling jokes" - but would not divulge what they were about.
Other guests included many of the stars of London 2012 including cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and gymnasts Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan and Daniel Purvis.
Cold lemon squash and ice creams were particularly welcome as temperatures reached 22 degrees Celsius, with many guests kicking off their shoes to sit on the palace lawns.
Balding, who spent time chatting with former sportswomen Sally Gunnell, said she had "seen so many Olympians and Paralympians".
"I keep bumping into people I know," she added.