The Queen's visit to the North East has seen a flypast by a Vulcan bomber, the official opening of Tyne Tunnel 2 and a rapturous welcome by school children at Gateshead Stadium.
Her Majesty gave a rare public speech at the opening of the tunnel.
She said: "45 years after I came here to open the first road tunnel under the River Tyne, Prince Philip and I are delighted to return for the official opening of Tyne Tunnel 2.
"I know that the first tunnel has made a huge difference to people's lives in Tyneside, opening up access for many communities once so divided by this great river."
She said the project, which took four years and opened to vehicles in November 2011, has given "a better quality of life to residents, businesses and commuters".
"Time once lost to traffic jams can now be spent with family and friends," she said.
"Now the project is complete, I would like to congratulate all those who have played a part. You can all be proud of a job well done."
In Sunderland, the arrival of the royal couple was marked by the thunderous roar of the Vulcan, an aircraft that made its first flight 60 years ago, in the year of the Queen's Coronation.
It soared above the Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh as they arrived at Sunderland's Corporation Quay on Leander.
Her Majesty wore an orange dress and coat by Stewart Parvin with matching hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan as she disembarked.
She was accompanied by the Duke as they visited a temporary exhibition depicting scenes from every decade of her reign.
The Queen and the Duke then travelled via Newcastle city centre and the Quayside to Gateshead International Stadium.
They arrived in a maroon open-top Range Rover cheered by more than 6,000 primary school children.
The children sang the specially-commissioned Diamond Jubilee Song as part of a jamboree performance.
Afterwards, Chris Strong, sport, lifestyle and health development manager with Gateshead Council, introduced local children to the Queen.
He said: "It was a proud, amazing moment which all of us will remember for a long time."
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