Queen starts Jubilee tour

The Queen has begun her Golden Jubilee tour of the UK with a visit to Cornwall and Devon. Some 1,500 people lined the streets of the Cornish town of Falmouth to see the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The royal couple later visited Trelissick Gardens and Truro in Cornwall before heading off to Exeter. During the Queen's nationwide tour, from May to August, she will travel to every region of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - visiting about 60 towns.

Wednesday's visit was designed to highlight two of the West Country's most important industries - farming and tourism - which were badly affected by last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak. The couple arrived in Falmouth by Royal Train shortly after 1000 BST. At the new National Maritime Museum - due to open in the autumn - the royal couple saw a yacht called Bluebottle that they were given as a wedding gift.

The Queen then went out to the harbour to meet the crew of a new lifeboat and officially name the ship Robert Cox Scott. She and Prince Philip then boarded the boat for a tour of Falmouth Harbour.

The crews of both the HMS Cornwall and the Prince William - named after the couple's grandson - gave the couple 'three cheers'. Falmouth harbourmaster Captain Mark Samson, who accompanied the Queen on the trip, said: "It was a tremendous atmosphere and a tremendous occasion for us." Later hundreds of people greeted the Queen when she arrived at a celebration of Cornish gardens at the National Trust's 18th Century Trelissick gardens, near Truro.

She saw a maypole dance performed by children from the Isles of Scilly, listened to music played by the St Keverne band and received flowers from local Brownies. Nine-year-old Rosy Watson said: "The Queen said thank you for the flowers - she is absolutely beautiful." The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh then headed to Truro to mark the 125th anniversary of the diocese.

The Dean of Truro, the Very Reverend Michael Moxon, said beforehand: "So often people in Cornwall feel they're a bit forgotten. "It's wonderful to get this boost." After lunch at the cathedral, the Queen and the Duke were presented with a hamper containing Cornish produce - including a giant pasty and a bottle of Bishop Bill's beer. Later on Wednesday afternoon, the Queen was due travel to Exeter in Devon, where she will attend a reception at the Guildhall and confer city status on the town. On Thursday the couple will go to Wells, the farmers' market and Vivary Park in Taunton and various locations including the Pump Rooms in Bath.