The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have officially opened the Curve theatre during a visit to Leicester.
The Queen met acting and backstage staff at the £61m complex and saw a performance of a specially commissioned show, Simply Cinderella.
It is the first time in six years Her Majesty has been in the city.
She also visited the University of Leicester's newly completed £32m David Wilson Library and the Leicester Grammar School.
But a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to Shree Hindu temple on Barnabas Road was cancelled because of a dispute among the members of its committee.
Fifty-year gap
Curve opened its doors on 11 November with a celebratory opening show, Lift Off.
The project started in 2005 and cost more than double the original estimate of £26m.
Leicester Theatre Trust chairman of trustees Anthony Lawton said: "It means a huge amount for the Queen to visit. It's a feather in the cap for Leicester, and for all the people involved it's just so exciting."
The Duke of Edinburgh, he said, was "just fascinated" by the building's innovative design.
Her Majesty was last at the university 50 years ago when it had was awarded its Royal Charter.
"To welcome the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh back to the university after 50 years is another tremendous accomplishment for the university," said vice-chancellor Professor Robert Burgess.
The royal couple finished their day of engagements with a visit to Leicester Grammar School's new building in Great Glen.
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