Grey skies, low cloud and rain were all around for the arrival in Enniskillen on Tuesday morning of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

But by the time the Royal couple left five hours later, there had been little gloom throughout a day of smiles, handshakes, joy, worship and celebration.

They met many of the thousands who lined Enniskillen's main street.

They attended a special Diamond jubilee service of thanksgiving in St. Macartin's Church of Ireland Cathedral before taking the historic walk across the road to be warmly greeted in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church.

Here, they met Protestants and Catholics from various local organisations and interests.

The afternoon engagement was to officially open the new �276million South West Acute Hospital.

The Queen also privately met some relatives of those killed in the 1987 Remembrance Sunday bombing.

Enniskillen town centre had been closed to traffic from 10pm on Monday evening for the visit, which in these changed times had been publicised in advance.

With thousands lining the streets, including many children brought from school, there was a damp start to the visit which was delayed when the Royal plane was diverted to Aldergrove.

The couple then transferred by helicopter to Enniskillen airport at St. Angelo.

As she alighted on to the tarmac, the Queen made light of the conditions outstretching her arms and looking skywards with a smile.

She was greeted by The Earl of Erne, Lord Lieutenant for County Fermanagh and the Countess of Erne, Mr Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Mrs. Paterson and by Mr. Alan Cathcart, Director of Enniskillen Airport Ltd and his wife, Mrs. Susan Cathcart.

The Lord Lieutenant's Cadet, Corporal Amy Kenny was also in attendance.

The Royal Cavalcade was then escorted to Enniskillen by police outriders and the Queen waved a white-gloved hand and smiled at many of the thousands of onlookers along the town's main thoroughfare on her way to St. Macartin's Cathedral.

The 750-strong congregation was already in place, many of them having arrived at 7.30 in the morning to go through security well in advance of the proposed 11 o-clock start.

The eight bells in the tower of the Cathedral continued to ring out by the bell ringers.

The service was delayed by about 45 minutes by the change in travel arrangements.

The Queen and Prince Philip were met at the front of the historic church by the Rector and Dean of Clogher, the Very Reverend Kenneth Hall.

There was a strong cross-community element in the service with Clergy from the Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches taking part.

After the service, the Queen met privately with families of the Enniskillen bomb victims and spent a few minutes in the Deanery.

Then came the historic walk across to St. Michael's, also a historic building.

Here, she was greeted by the Parish Priest Very Reverend Canon Peter O'Reilly.

Inside the church, the Queen and the Duke met about 90 representatives from various walks of life in the community.

Then it was outside again, with the Royal couple walking over to greet many of the townspeople who had been waiting patiently behind crash barriers.

There were cries of "We want the Queen" and the monarch duly obliged by chatting and smiling with many of the spectators.

At one stage, she neatly sidestepped a puddle of rain and continued to accept posies of flowers from many of those present.

The couple were then driven off to a private lunch.

In the afternoon, they returned to Enniskillen to visit the new hospital.

This time she was greeted by Lord Anthony Hamilton, Vice Lord Lieutenant who introduced her to the remainder of the welcoming party.

They included Mrs Joanna McVey, High Sheriff, and her husband, Mr Ken Saunderson.

Fermanagh District Council Sinn Fein chairman, Mr. Thomas O'Reilly had declined the invitation, and the Council was represented by the vice-chairman, Mr. Harold Andrews and Mrs. Esther Andrews as well as the Chief Executive, Mr. Brendan Hegarty.

By late afternoon, the Royal couple left Fermanagh en route to Hillsborough where they were staying overnight ahead of yesterday's visit to Belfast.

While much media attention was on the historic handshake with Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, many Fermanagh people were heading to Stormont for yesterday afternoon's garden party.