“SO lovely to see you. Aren’t you looking gorgeous?”

Those were Princess Beatrice of York’s warm words for nervous young winners of The Press’ Community Pride awards as they presented posies to her and the Queen at Micklegate Bar, cheered by thousands of onlookers.

The children, Rosalia Daly Maxwell, Margaux Barker, Freddie Hyde, Owen Targett and Hannah Jane Martin, had been “terribly nervous” beforehand as they waited for the Royal Party to arrive, said Gill Cooper, of City of York Council. “The Princess was really nice with them.”

Owen’s mother, Fleur, said: “He loved all the pageantry and colour – and especially liked the police motorbikes!”

The Queen, wearing an Angela Kelly turquoise and white day dress and coat, and a matching hat, had been greeted by rapturous cheers from huge crowds inside and outside the Bar as she arrived from York Station with the Princess and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

She touched the historic Sigismund Sword – which was originally owned by an Emperor of Bohemia and was presented to York in 1437 and bears the Royal Arms on one side of the blade and the Arms of York on the other – and entered through the Bar, where council chief executive and town clerk Kersten England read a proclamation of welcome.

Hilda Hill, 74, of Strensall, had arrived at 6.15am with her granddaughters, Stephanie, 23, and Natalie, 20, also from Strensall, carrying Union Flags dating back to a previous Royal visit in 1972.

“I think she is marvellous,” she said.

Another enthusiastic onlooker was Jen Lawson, 35, from Washington, in the United States. “I’ve seen your Queen five times,” she said. “I just love the way everybody gets excited about her. In America, we think she’s great!”