THE Queen arrived at Howe Barracks on Tuesday morning to express royal gratitude to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for services abroad.

In her role as Colonel in Chief, the Queen awarded medals to 15 soldiers of the 1st Battalion and the Wilkinson Sword of Peace to the regiment.

The medals were for outstanding operational service in Iraq, from where 450 soldiers returned after a six-month tour of duty in July.

The Wilkinson Sword of Peace was presented for peacekeeping work in Belfast in 2002. The regiment had been heavily involved in resolving the sectarian tensions that arose at the Catholic Holy Cross Girls' Primary School and spread across the city.

Just before 11am today, a parade of 192 soldiers from the 550-strong 1st Battalion marched onto the parade ground led by the regiment's Pipes and Drums band.

Within minutes the royal helicopter could be heard whirring overhead just as, with military precision, the sun made its short-lived and only appearance of the morning. The Queen made her way onto the parade ground in matching dark blue overcoat and hat, over a blue floral dress.

An inspection of ranks preceded the presentation ceremony. Afterwards, Her Majesty was introduced to the regimental mascot, a black Shetland Pony named Cruachan.

The Queen later met some of the troops and their families in the cookhouse at the barracks. She was invited round an exhibition of paintings by the soldiers' children on the theme of peace.

The battalion adjutant, Capt Justin Barry, said: "Today is a very special day, a bit like a holiday with all the excitement, the pipes playing and the children laughing.

"This is all about recognition - not just for hard work of the soldiers abroad and at home, but for all the families have had to put up with too."

The Queen is due to fly out at 3pm after lunch and drinks in the officers' mess.