The Queen in Sheffield: Serenade proves music to one's ears

Her Majesty was visiting Sheffield in a packed tour that included a children's choir performance at the city's cathedral.

After arriving by Royal Train, she also attended the opening of a world-leading motor neurone disease (MND) centre and the launch of a nuclear power research centre.

Making her first public outing since the announcement her grandson Prince William is engaged to Kate Middleton, the Queen was welcomed at Sheffield Cathedral by a crowd of hundreds, many of whom presented her with flowers.

One well-wisher at Sheffield Cathedral, Linda Mitchell from Pontefract, said a friend congratulated the Queen on the forthcoming matrimony. "She smiled and agreed how nice it is," Mrs Mitchell said.

It was thought to be the first time a reigning monarch had ever made an official appearance at Sheffield Cathedral and people queued up for around an hour to get a glimpse of the Queen, who was accompanied by the Lord and Lady Lieutenant of South Yorkshire.

Once inside, about 150 children from various schools across the city treated the VIP guests to songs from the cathedral's Sing! Project, which aims to bring singing back into the everyday lives of children in the more deprived areas of Sheffield.

Her Majesty smiled as she listened intently to three songs during the 30-minute visit; Queen hit We Will Rock You, The Beatles' classic All You Need is Love and Elton John's I Just Can't Wait to be King, written for Disney film The Lion King.

The Queen also met volunteers from the University of Sheffield during the visit. Emma Harrabin, Chair of the university's Raise and Giving (RAG) group, said the Queen had been impressed with the 170,000 raised by students last year, adding: "She said it was really good."

The fundraisers also discussed their Spiderwalk challenge, a night hike across the Peaks, which the Queen said "must have been really tough".

Stella McHugh, manager of SheffieldVolunteering, which leads fundraising at the Students' Union, said: "We feel incredibly honoured to have shared some of our volunteering experiences with Her Majesty."

One little boy was more bemused. He handed a bouquet to the Queen, who as is customary passed them to an aid, provoking the child to ask: "Are there two Queens?"

Earlier in the day Her Majesty opened a medical research centre for motor neurone disease sufferers and their families across the world.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, she visited the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neurosciences (SITraN) – Europe's first research facility for the condition – where the Royal couple toured the laboratories and unveiled a plaque.

Youngsters waved flags and held a banner to welcome Her Majesty, who responded with a wave before being met by dignitaries including the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Coun Alan Law, leader of Sheffield Council Coun Paul Scriven, university chancellor Peter Middleton and the Duke of Devonshire.

The Duke is also the Honorary Patron of the Sheffield Institute Foundation charity which provided the biggest philanthropic gift to the university since Edwardian times to help fund the project.

Institute director Professor Pam Shaw, who showed the Royal visitors around, said: "It's the realisation of a dream for me.

"I've wanted to see this ever since I was a medical student. The Queen was very interested in what we're doing and was very chatty."

SITraN brings together specialists from around the world dedicated to finding the causes of MND and, hopefully, a cure

Patron Stuart Keane, whose son Shaun died from MND earlier this year, said he managed to hold back the tears as he met The Queen. He said: "I did well. I didn't start to cry and drown her in tears. I told her how my son had been diagnosed with MND and how hopeless you feel when you find out about the horrors of the disease. She's a lovely lady."

Elsewhere during the Royal visit, the Duke of Edinburgh

visited Sheffield-based wire joiner manufacturer Gripple where he presented the firm with its latest Queen's Award for sustainable development and officially opened the new 1.5m

headquarters of its sister firm Loadhog.

The Royals also enjoyed lunch at Sheffield University's prestigious Firth Court and found out more about the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham.