After a long and difficult journey from the South of the country, the Queen and Prince Philip were finally released into their new enclosure at Chester Zoo today.
Philip seemed to settle in immediately and engaged in some lively banter with his handlers ("I'm surprised you speak English this far north!") but Elizabeth retired immediately into the den and would not come out to pose for photographs, despite being tempted by a Fortnum and Mason's hamper.
Whilst no longer a breeding pair, the zoo expects them to be a big tourist attraction later in the year once they have become used to their new environment.
