Queen saves the day for tots

The Queen steps in to accept the book from the confused boys

Two three-year-olds mistook their teacher for the Queen on Wednesday.

Toby Ridsdale and Jamie Thompson were to hand a book to the Queen at the Rainbow Centre at RAF Marham, Norfolk.

Toby and Jamie practised for weeks with a nursery manager in the Queen's role - and during the visit they did exactly what they had practised.

As they walked straight past the Queen towards her stand-in, she saved the day by quickly stepping across to let the boys know who she was.

The book had been specially made by staff and children at the nursery.

I showed them pictures of the Queen because I was concerned that they wouldn't know who she was and they obviously got a little confused Dee Gent

"We'd been practising for three weeks," said the Queen's stand-in Dee Gent.

"I've been playing the Queen and they have been handing over the book and bowing. They were doing it beautifully.

"I showed them pictures of the Queen because I was concerned that they wouldn't know who she was and they obviously got a little confused.

"But I thought they did really well as did all the other children and I'm really proud of them."

The Queen formally opened the centre - one of 25 being built by the RAF Benevolent Fund at airbases across the UK - during a visit to the air base.

The centre is specially designed for children of servicemen and women based at Marham.

The Queen listened to the youngsters sing three songs before waving goodbye.