CHILDREN from Westminster Community Primary School whooped and cheered as the Queen waved to them at Chester Zoo last Thursday.

The youngsters, in Year 5, were standing on the bridge between the elephants and the deer pen when Her Majesty noticed them from the monorail above.

Armed with Union Jack flags, the children – with teacher Katrina Barlow and teaching assistant Jackie Todd – waved frantically to attract the attention of the royal party.

“She waved at us, she waved,” they all screamed, after the Queen, dressed in a stunning coral dress, matching coat and hat, had turned her attention from the deer to give them a gleaming smile.

Speaking afterwards, Miss Barlow said: “We are here to support the Queen.”

Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were at Chester Zoo last week to open the new Diamond Jubilee Quarter.

Following the official opening, the Queen and Prince Philip took an 18-minute tour of the zoo on the monorail, which had a Union Jack design, before visiting the rhino enclosure and the elephants respectively.

Pupils of other Ellesmere Port schools and Ellesmere Port air and fire cadets were also invited to the zoo to share in the royal celebrations.