AFTER receiving a rousing welcome at St Ives seafront, the Queen and Prince Philip were treated to a sneak preview of the new summer exhibition at Tate St Ives, which was opened by their son 20 years ago, and is just about to undergo a massive expansion.
The cream of Cornwall's artists gathered at the gallery overlooking Porthmeor Beach, including Anthony Frost, the artist son of the late Sir Terry Frost.
He said the visit was simply "fantastic".
Mr Frost, whose son Luke was also present, shared a joke with the Duke of Edinburgh when he was asked what he did for a living – accompanied by a gesture of pretending to paint.
"I said, yes, I write the cheques and he said, 'I do that as well'."
Mr Frost said meeting the Queen was a "pleasure and a delight", adding: "She is amazing."
The Queen was sprightly in her tour of the gallery, setting a pace which her entourage several decades her junior had difficulty keeping up with.
At the reception on the gallery's top floor, Her Majesty was visibly impressed by the magnificent vista across the rooftops of fishermen's cottages and out across a clear blue sea towards Godrevy Point.
The royal couple were also treated to a rousing choral performance by children from St Ives Junior school who had gathered in the atrium.
The Queen was then presented with two posies of flowers by Agatha Fitch-Turner, 4, and Kitty Clark, 9.
The dignity of the occasion seemed to overawe the younger of the two, who forgot to curtsey and shyly waved to her mum, Arwen, who was mouthing and gesturing at her to complete a respectful bob.
"She's been so excited," said mum.
"She was asking me if the Queen was coming round for tea." Older flower girl Kitty, a pupil at St Ives Juniors, said it would be a day she would remember for all her life.
"We were told at school that the Queen was coming and I was really excited.
"Then when I got home I was told I was going to be presented.
"I was really excited. It was all I could talk about for the last few weeks."
Her dad Martin, artists' director of Tate St Ives, said he was thrilled to welcome the Queen. "Everyone has been really excited.
"It's 20 years since the building was opened by her son the Prince of Wales and it was really special that the Queen, on her first visit to St Ives came here, especially as we have the new project."
For ardent royalist Harry Isaacs, twice former mayor of St Ives, meeting the Queen was a crowning glory.
The 75-year-old had travelled to be present at every major event in the monarch's reign and was pleased to have met her on home turf.
As one of Tate St Ives' supporters since the very beginning, he was presented to the royal couple as they toured the soon to expand gallery.
"I was at the Queen's coronation when I was 15," he said.
"I went up to London to join the crowds at her wedding and to the silver and the golden jubilee. I'm a true royalist.
"I don't think there's another head of state in the world who has so much charisma."
As the Queen left Tate St Ives the large crowd gathered on the promenade overlooking Porthmeor Beach spontaneously bust into a round of applause and cheered loudly. The shout 'three cheers' went up and was warmly responded to.
The Queen looked delighted to have received such a welcome and waved to the crowd as she was driven away.