Armed Forces Mark Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Thousands of troops have been taken part in a parade and flypast at Windsor Castle to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The event in Windsor was designed to reflect the close relationship between the Queen and the Armed Forces.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh watched as six massed bands led servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Army and RoyalAir Force (RAF) in the uplifting musical pageant.

Joined by other members of the royal family on a dais in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle - her favourite residence - the Queen smiled and made comments to her husband during the parade.

Outside the castle walls thousands of people lined the streets to cheer and wave union flags as the 2,500 troops from the Armed Forces marched past on their way to a specially built arena in the grounds of the royal estate.

The parade and muster began with a flypast of RAF Typhoons in the Diamond Nine formation, which drew cheers and applause from the crowds in the arena and on the parade route.

As the troops gathered in formation on the parade arena in front of a stage designed to look like Buckingham Palace, the guests were treated to music played by the combined bands.

Once everyone for the Tri-Service Guard of Honour was in place, the Queen and Philip were driven in a State Bentley along the parade route to more cheers and applause.

The Queen said from the grandstand: "It is a tradition of very long standing that the Sovereign, and members of the royal family, are intimately associated with the Armed Forces and have been proud to serve in all three services.

"We are very proud of the selfless service, and sacrifices made by servicemen and women and their families in recent years.

"It is very gratifying to celebrate and take pride in successful achievements, but the real test of character is the ability to maintain morale and a positive spirit in bad times as well as when things are going well."

The Queen was then given a stirring Three Cheers by the servicemen and women, who thrust their head-dresses in the air as they shouted "Hooray!".

Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said: "Her Majesty the Queen's support and encouragement over the years has created a very special bond between our monarch and her forces.

"That link is felt by all those who have the privilege to wear Her Majesty's uniform both in the UK and on many varied operations overseas."

The parade comes as the royal family hosted heads of state from around the world amid controversy over their choice of guests.

Criticism was largely aimed at the presence of the King of Bahrain, whose regime is accused of a catalogue of human rights abuses.

The event was supposed to be a rare meeting of monarchs to celebrate the 60-year milestone, but it was overshadowed by strong criticism from campaigners about those invited to the Windsor Castle event.

Lunch guests from controversial regimes included Swaziland's King Mswati III, the former prime minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, who stepped down over a corruption row, and Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Britain.