Excitement is mounting as Salisbury prepares to welcome the Queen later today.

Her Majesty will arrive by Royal Train late this morning and will visit The Rifles Museum, The Cathedral Close and Salisbury Cathedral.

Thousands of people, including hundreds of children, will line her route and they are already arriving in Cathedral Close hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor.

The first keen spectators were in the close early this morning and the wet weather was doing nothing to dampen spirits.

Louise Compton, from Alderbury, said: “We are very excited. My daughter Rebecca is dancing in the cathedral and hopefully the Queen will see her.

"Let’s hope the weather gets better.”

Anna Reavell, of Frogham, near Fordingbridge, has taken her sons Ben, eight, and Marcus, five, along to the Close to enjoy the occasion.

“We went to the royal wedding last year when we camped out in the street,” she said. “And we have come along today to see the Queen. We are all very excited.”

The Queen is visiting Sherborne this morning and will have lunch at The Rifles Museum before touring tents containing displays about life in Wiltshire and its history.

Inside the cathedral she will meet children working on a Magna Carta project before unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit.