The Queen made her annual visit to the Sandringham and West Newton branch of the Women's Institute (WI) this afternoon (Thursday, January 24) and her special guest is not so 'Pointless'.

Her Majesty was greeted by branch chairman Yvonne Browne.

TV star Alexander Armstrong, who hosts the quiz show on BBC One, arrived at West Newton Village Hall as the special guest and joined the monarch for the branch's meeting.

Mr Armstrong could not contain his excitement at the prospect of meeting Her Majesty.

On his way into the village hall, he said: “It’s always an honour to meet the Queen and I feel particularly honoured to be here today.

“It’s a bit like a dream come true.”

Born in Northumberland, the special guest has appeared in a range of television shows and films including Doctor Who and Marple as well as starring as a comedian and presenter.

He continued: “I think I am going to get to have tea with the Queen.

“It’s going to be quite informal. We will ramble around this and that.”

The screen star was greeted by a scrum of more than ten photographers as he arrived by car with his wife Hannah.

Mr Armstrong said:”I have had lots of friends saying they have had tea with the Queen and now I get to do it, so I am extremely excited.”

A special guest goes to the meeting each year with Susie Fowler-Watt in attendance last year.

The identity of the guest is somewhat of a mystery with waiting media and photographers unsure of who it will be until they arrive.

After jokingly saying it could have been Christopher Biggins or Angela Rippon, Mr Armstrong said: “I did not realise it was such a closely guarded secret.”

The Queen, who is Sandringham and West Newton branch's president, spends time with members of the group each year, having joined the organisation in 1943, when she was still Princess Elizabeth.

The 92-year-old monarch traditionally joins members for their January meeting during her new year break on the estate.

The meeting came exactly one week after a Land Rover driven by the Duke of Edinburgh was in collision with a car on the A149 near the West Newton village hall, where the WI meets.

The incident created headlines around the world and has seen the Royal Family criticised for its response to the incident.

But the Queen was full of smiles as she was welcomed by branch chairman Yvonne Browne for the meeting.

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