IT WAS the day the nation's Queen met Ipswich's little princess.Three-year-old Sevenia Aquino won nearly as many hearts as Her Royal Highness as she handed a bunch of roses to the Queen.

IT WAS the day the nation's Queen met Ipswich's little princess.

Three-year-old Sevenia Aquino won nearly as many hearts as Her Royal Highness as she handed a bunch of roses to the Queen.

The tot sported a flowery dress - to match her bouquet for the Queen - and a tiara fit for a princess.

Mum Sarah, of Kingsway, Ipswich, told how her daughter's imagination for the royal appointment was fired by lessons on kings and queens at kindergarten.

She said: "Sevenia came and home and started asking what the Queen looked like.

"I told her she might come and visit Ipswich one day and we would try and see her.

"So when I found out the Queen was coming here I applied for tickets and they came in the post a couple of weeks ago. Our prayers were answered."

Sevenia was joined by brothers Seveno, 2, and Greg, 9, in Sarah's little party that headed down to the docks.

Sarah said: "We were packed in like sardines, but it wasn't a problem. The whole day was brilliant.

"Three hours is a long time to wait for the children, but it was well, well worth it.

"It was so well planned, the security was brilliant and the Pcs and Wpcs were very courteous and helpful.

"Sevenia picked out her dress to match the roses, which she said were peach, definitely not orange.

"She loves her flowers and her gardening, she loves Laura Ashley and she loves dressing up as a princess with a tiara – just a proper little girl really."

And Sevenia's day was rounded-off as The Star presented her with a princess doll, kindly donated by Toymaster Kingdom, Carr Street, Ipswich.

When the little girl got home she was full of excitement – and couldn't wait to tell friends at kindergarten.

Sarah said: "When we got home she just said 'I'm going to school to tell all my friends', but I'm sure we'll be partying tonight."

The pictures of Sevenia's momentous day will be touching hearts across the world as well as in Ipswich.

She is half-Filipino, but has never met her relations in the Philippines. Sarah said she planned to send pictures of the day to Sevenia's grandmother.