THE Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened a school, a library and a museum during a day-long visit to the region.

The Royal couple visited Washington School, Washington, Wearside, on a site which has been used for nearly 100 years for education.

The Queen, wearing a light cerise jacket by designer Stewart Parvin with matching hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, watched as children baked cakes and then looked on as others took a computer technology class.

Hundreds of people lined Northumberland Street – Newcastle’s main shopping street – to see the Royal couple as they did a walkabout meeting well-wishers, who presented the Queen with bunches of flowers.

The Queen and Philip then made a short journey by car to the City Library, where she toured the new facility, meeting staff, watching pupils from local primary schools taking part in story time and seeing Girl Guides practise first aid skills as part of the organisation’s centenary celebrations.

The Royal couple then met Princess Eugenie at the Great North Museum, in Newcastle, which the Queen officially opened.

The 19-year-old Princess is studying English, history of art and politics at the city’s university.

The Royal party was given a reception and lunch at the £26million museum, which has attracted more than 500,000 visitors since it opened five months ago.