The Queen becomes visibly emotional at memorial for fallen soldiers

The monarch was seen in a rare display of emotion

Queen Elizabeth II wipes her eye during the service in a tribute to soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment killed while serving in Afghanistan (PA)

The Queen was seen visibly emotional during a ceremony to pay tribute to fallen soldiers.

The monarch joined wounded veterans and friends and family of soldiers who have died while serving in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, of which she is Colonel- in-Chief.

A total of 32 members of the regiment have died since it was formed 10 years ago.

Queen Elizabeth lay a wreath during the service and unveiled a monument at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

She was seen wiping her eyes and with a tear down her cheek while the crowd sang a hymn during the service.

The Queen is rarely seen in public displays of emotion and during her 63-year-reign has only been seen emotional a handful of times.

In 1997, she was pictured crying at the decommissioning ceremony of her ship the Royal Yacht Britannia after the newly elected Labour government decided not to replace it. The ship can now be found on display in Edinburgh.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.