QUEEN Elizabeth did not get the sunshine, but she did get a warm reception when she visited Northern Ireland yesterday.
A pink and cream straw hat and a matching pink outfit - also described as peach or "off-salmon" - just did not suit the Tyrone downpour.
An ankle-length Barbour coat, sou'wester, and matching aristocratic green wellingtons were what was required to combat the cascades of water that beat down on Dungannon yesterday.
Still, it was the day after her husband's birthday, the eve of her official birthday, and it was the year of their golden wedding anniversary, so she obviously decided a splash of bright colour would meet the occasion.
But it was the grim, grey weather that made the splash. It rather dampened her morning visit to Dungannon and the summer garden party at Hillsborough Castle in the afternoon.
But the British monarch and Prince Philip are seasoned troupers; they just got on with the show, a smile here, limp handshake there, a little comment elsewhere.
Anyway Queen Elizabeth wasn't the only person unsuitably dressed. She met Catholic and Protestant children in the Multi-Purpose Centre in Dungannon who were most sensibly attired in warm school uniforms.
Others, though, were also expecting sunshine. Floral dresses and the occasional summer bonnet attested to some women's unfortunate confidence in the North's weather.
The queen and the 76-year-old Duke of Edinburgh chatted to about 60 children from Catholic and Protestant schools across the North who are involved in the Speedwell cross-community project.
The children and their teachers all appeared delighted to meet the queen.
Rachel Brown from Killyman primary school presented the queen with a small posy while Michael Donnelly from Laghey school presented Prince Philip with a carved squirrel.
The centre's manager, Mrs Fiona Hegarty, said the queen and the duke were hugely impressed. "It shows the sort of work which children from both our communities can do and provides us with hope for the future," she added.
As she chatted to the children in the centre outside, scores of men, women and even more children gathered in the driving rain to catch a glimpse of her. When she emerged she spoke briefly to a number of the onlookers and well-wishers before getting into her car to travel to Hillsborough.
Here again some of the style was more geared to Ascot than an elegant but rain-sodden garden party. The theme of the party was significant anniversaries. More than 2,000 people were present, including members of the RUC celebrating the force's 75th anniversary.
There were also figures from the Territorial Army, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the marriage counselling service, Relate, which like the couple, was in its 50th year.
Six couples who were married on November 20th, 1947, the date of the queen's wedding, also joined the celebration.
In all 300 couples celebrating their golden wedding anniversaries this year were invited to the garden party.
Among the attendance at Hillsborough was the prime minister of Nova Scotia, Mr John Savage, who is leading a trade mission to Ireland, North and South.
A notable absentee, however, was the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
After welcoming the queen when she flew into Northern Ireland, Dr Mowlam had to leave for London for her first Northern Ireland questions in the House of Commons.
It was Queen Elizabeth's ninth visit to Northern Ireland since she acceded to the British throne.
