stadiummk swelled with national pride on Thursday as Her Majesty the Queen officially opened the home of the Milton Keynes Dons.

The stadium was the centre piece of the Queen's historic visit to the new city in the year of its 40th birthday.

Her Majesty arrived at the stadium just before midday and was greeted by Chairman Pete Winkelman before being introduced to some of the key contributors to the stadium's development.

Manager Paul Ince then introduced Her Majesty to a number of the Dons first team squad before the Royal Party viewed an exhibition from the Milton Keynes Council for Voluntary Organisations in the Grand Ballroom.

After further introductions to key members of staff, the Queen and the Duke were driven from the front of the stadium round and into the lower bowl where a huge number of Milton Keynes schoolchildren took part in a fantastic dance show.

Dons Chairman Pete Winkelman welcomes Her Majesty the Queen.

Her Majesty was then invited by Pete to unveil a plaque to declare the stadium officially opened.

The climax of the event came with the presentation of a red balloon, historically a symbol of Milton Keynes, by Ria Ince, daughter of Dons manager Paul, which the Queen released into the Milton Keynes sky on a beautiful November afternoon.

Paul Ince, Sean O'Hanlon and Paul Mitchell share a joke with Her Majesty the Queen.