The Queen kept her official commitments aside for a day and enjoyed a secret trip on a miniature steam railway.
London, May 5 : The Queen kept her official commitments aside for a day and enjoyed a secret trip on a miniature steam railway.
The British monarch wore a raincoat, headscarf and glasses as she took the one and a half mile trip around the grounds of a stately home in Hampshire's New Forest.
She made a 20-minute journey through the estate of her friend Leopold de Rothschild, who drove the small engine.
The Queen had earlier named the little engine in a private ceremony before climbing aboard the bright blue locomotive.
Four years ago the Queen nipped away to enjoy a trip on another of de Rothschild's other small engines, Rosemary.
An Exbury Gardens spokeswoman said of the Queen's latest visit: "Members of the public were around at the time but it seems they didn't bat an eyelid at the Queen."
"It was a private visit, she came with very few people and was dressed very anonymously - it was certainly as if she was travelling incognito and didn't want to be recognised," she added.
80-year-old de Rothschild is a keen railway enthusiast and shares his passion for steam with the Queen.
"Her Majesty very kindly agreed to make a private visit to Exbury to help us celebrate the launch of our marvellous new engine Mariloo," Times Online quoted him, as saying.
"She not only gave Mariloo her blessing but also a new tree, which will stand as a tribute to her and the beauty of this garden for generations to come," he added.
ANI