Sikh temple gets royal visitors

The Duke of Edinburgh had to cover his head to go into the temple

A £2.5m plan to expand a Sikh temple in west London has been given the royal seal of approval.

The Queen visited the temple in Hounslow on Friday and viewed an exhibition to mark the 400th anniversary of Sikh scriptures.

She unveiled a plaque to open the temple's second phase of development.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, met Sikh war veterans and elders at the temple, which was built in 1992.

On arrival, they were presented with garlands and asked to remove their shoes and cover their heads.

The visit also marked the 25th anniversary of the west London temple.

Mohan Singh Nayyar, general secretary of the Hounslow temple, said the visit had left the Sikh community feeling very proud and happy.

"One of the reasons why the Queen came in the first place was because of the many activities we have at this Gurdwara in partnership with local organisations which benefit not only the Sikh community but the local community in Hounslow as well.

"It was this initiative that probably sold it the Queen and she decided to visit the Gurdwara."