Holocaust survivors were invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party in recognition of their contribution to Shoah education.

Two of the group, Cirla Lewis and Susan Pollack, met the Queen.

Ms Lewis, a "hidden child", said it had been "an honour to tell her about my story. What a marvellous country we live in."

Ms Pollack, an Auschwitz survivor, said the Queen had shown "understanding and empathy" towards her. "The beauty of the house and gardens was amazing."

Another member of the group was Joan Salter, who said that "as always on special occasions, my thoughts turn to my family, and of all we endured and of those who did not survive. They walked with me in the sunshine this afternoon."

The Queen is patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Rabbi Menachem and Goldie Junik of Hendon's Beis Gavriel Lubavitch synagogue were also garden party guests.