It was a smile that said it all. Copthall Stadium may not have been able to match the spectacle of the Jubilee concert or Tuesday's dramatic Concorde fly-past but the carnival atmosphere was more than enough to win the Queen's seal of approval.

The Mill Hill venue was lit up on Thursday last week with a glittering array of dance and musical displays which sent the 14,000 people crammed into the arena into raptures.

The thousands of Union flags on display created a festive atmosphere akin to Henman Hill at Wimbledon but as Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh entered the stadium, it was clear that tennis was certainly not on the agenda.

Everyone had come to see one lady and as she stepped out of the car, the noise was deafening. "We knew she was going to wear mauve," exclaimed Sheila Abbott, headteacher of Brookland Infant School in Hilltop, Hampstead Garden Suburb.

"She looked absolutely gorgeous and the Duke has got the bluest eyes. To come along today after the weekend was just wonderful."

Mrs Abbott was one of the lucky people to meet the Queen. She presented her with a CD-Rom outlining 50 years of Barnet's history compiled by students across the borough.

Frederick George, 57, of Northumberland Road, East Barnet, also met the Queen due to his involvement with volunteer charities over the last 32 years. He said: "She seemed to be really enjoying herself and she was very interested to hear about all the work I had done. I think we put on a most special show."

A marching band kicked off the visit with a bang and was followed by a stunning pageant incorporating diverse aspects of eight north London boroughs. Floats, vintage cars, steel bands and a plethora of wonderfully-decorated costumes paraded around the arena's running track before converging to the centre of the stadium.

Leeane Massey, 23, of Nurse Close, Burnt Oak, took part in the procession to represent residential home Henry Nihill House, Edgware. She said: "It has been great fun and we have all enjoyed it. The procession was very hard work but just to see their smiling faces was brilliant."

To close the celebration the Queen unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her Jubilee and received a small bouquet of flowers from nine-year-old Soralla Schlass, of Kisharon Day School, Finchley Road, Golders Green, before leaving for her next engagement at Alexandra Palace.

Earlier in the morning, residents has been entertained with a host of acts including motorbike stunts, horse displays and falconry as part of the family fun day, which lasted the duration of the day.

But the day was best summed up by GLA Member for Barnet and Camden, Councillor Brian Coleman, who was sat next to the Duke of Edinburgh throughout the entire visit. "It went exceptionally well," he said.

June 11, 2002 18:30