A class act: The Queen is all smiles as she joins a science lesson at a community school in London - where she's reunited with Sir Trevor McDonald

It's just under a month until the Queen reaches her 90th birthday and yet she seemed as sprightly as ever as she arrived at her engagement today.

The monarch looked regal in a purple ensemble paired with a matching hat and eye-catching red feathers as she attended the Queen's Trust Event at the Lister Community School in London.

She was greeted by veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, a trustee of the Queen's Trust, who arrived to speak about his involvement with the organisation.

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The Queen was all smiles as she paid a visit to the Lister Community School in Plaistow, London for the Queen's Trust event

She was greeted by veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, a trustee of the Queen's Trust, who attended to speak about his involvement with the organisation

The royal smiled as she shook the journalist's hand to whom she had previously awarded an OBE in 1992 and a knighthood in 1999.  

He said: 'This trust had some money to give to causes and I had a view on some of the causes.

'This school is an example of that benefit, grants are not directly given to the school but a number of organisations associated with the school.'

Indeed, the Queen seemed fascinated by the 1,300-strong school’s multi-cultural make-up.

‘How many languages did you say were spoken here again?’ she enquired of the headmaster, who told her that it was 60.

‘This is a big, big school, isn’t it?’ she remarked. ‘Quite remarkable.’ 

 The royal is patron of The Queen's Trust, which through its grants to youth charities, helps more young people succeed, with an emphasis on education and personal development. 

During her visit the Queen was pictured admiring the work of young scientists and musicians who appeared to impress the monarch. Pictured: The Queen's arrival (left) and during a science demonstration (right)

Earlier she had listened as the National Youth Orchestra players and Lister students performed the first few minutes of Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide

While she may turn 90 next month the Queen showed her legendary resilience, standing on her feet touring the facilities for almost an hour. 

In a triple science lesson of biology, chemistry and physics, the Queen watched as students worked at a table covered with beakers and flasks and attempted to neutralise an alkaline with an acid.

‘Is it working well?’ she asked, smiling.

The monarch seemed to be in particularly high spirits during today's events as she hardly stopped smiling

The trust to which the Queen is patron was founded around the time of her Silver Jubilee in 1977 and gives grants to youth charities. Pictured: The Queen is greeted by staff outside the school

Owen Hawkins, the school's head of science, told the Queen many of the students were thinking about a career in medicine or pharmaceuticals.  

Veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, a trustee of the Queen's Trust, attended the school visit and spoke about his involvement with the organisation. 

Students at Lister Community School in Plaistow, east London, welcomed the head of state as she was given an update about the work of organisations given a financial boost by the Queen's Trust.

The body was founded around the time of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 and gives grants to youth charities, enabling them to grow and help more young people.

The royal gives her famous wave to well-wishers as she arrived at the London school this morning

A number of organisations supported by the trust were represented at the school, from the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) of Great Britain which performed with Lister pupils, to Duke of Edinburgh's Award students.

In a triple science lesson of biology, chemistry and physics, the Queen watched as students worked at a table covered with beakers and flasks and attempted to neutralise an alkaline with an acid.

Owen Hawkins, the school's head of science, told the Queen many of the students were thinking about a career in medicine or pharmaceuticals.

Earlier she had listened as an orchestra of NYO players and Lister students performed the first few minutes of Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.

It is a piece the Queen knows well as the opening is usually played during the investiture ceremonies she traditionally hosts. 

‘Very enjoyable,’ she said afterwards.

It was, of course, rather a novel experience for the monarch who never went to school herself, but was educated by her governesses at Buckingham Palace as was customary at the time.