THE Queen and Prince Philip visited recovering soldiers at Headley Court near Leatherhead today.
Joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and dressed all in pearl white, the monarch met injured service personnel, staff who are treating them and visitors at the rehabilitation facility.
The aim of the visit was to officially open the Peter Long Unit, an in-patient care facility mainly for those with neurological conditions.
It was refurbished in a project begun in 2012 and finished last week - just in time.
Government funding of £5m allowed the improvements to be made there and elsewhere at Headley Court, which is the first stop after hospital for soldiers who have been injured in Afghanistan and other conflicts.
The Queen was the latest member of the Royal Family to visit the centre, Prince Charles having opened its new Jubilee Rehabilitation Complex in September.
One member of staff who has been at previous royal occasions called Her Majesty "the ultimate" visitor, while occupational therapist Kim Stickney added: "It's good for morale and it helps us to showcase what's happening here."
Her colleague Maxine Cozens said: "It means a great deal. Headley Court gets a lot of attention but it's nice to have someone special like the Queen here.
"She can understand what we do and the journey the patients go through."
Kingsman Jack Plant, of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, was in injured in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010 and has been treated at Headley Court ever since.
He was excited after his first glimpse of the Queen, saying: "It felt amazing to have her support, to have the support of the whole country."
After being welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant for Surrey, Her Majesty walked with Headley Court's commanding officer Clare Walton.
They were taken on a tour of the rehabilitation facilities, visiting a gym and meeting staff and patients.
A hydrotherapy pool was the next stop before the Peter Long Unit, and then there was a chance to meet personnel involved in horticultural therapy in the centre's grounds.
As the Queen and Prince Philip walked through the grounds, she was presented with flowers by four-year-old Sophie Howley and her eight-year-old sister Chloe, relatives of a member of staff.
After practising the curtsy countless times, they were spot on in their technique.
Their mother Claire said: "We were a bit worried and nervous because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The royal party were then led off to the officers' mess for lunch, with a starter of pigeon and beetroot first up on the menu.
