A royal super fan spent £2,000 on a tattoo of the Queen to commemorate their meeting - and said it feels even more special now she's died.
Debbie Harrington, 55, got the leg inking in 2018 after having a chat with the monarch outside a train station during an official engagement. They had a chat about Debbie's chihuahua - and the interaction left her "smiling for weeks".
The HR manager from Sunderland, then forked out £2k for a portrait of the Queen's face on her arm - and she still loves it.
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Debbie said: "I have always been a big supporter of the royal family - the Queen in particular. I love the Queen. I met her when she came to Derbyshire to open a textiles factory in 2015.
"I went to see her arrive at the train station. It was an amazing experience. I felt a bit star-struck.
"I didn't know what to say. She was standing right in front of me - so much smaller than I imagined she would be. She said 'hello'. I had my chihuahua with me and she asked about the dog.
"She was very friendly and it felt wonderful to see her in person. It is a moment I will never forget. I was smiling for weeks."
You can light a candle for Queen Elizabeth II here or leave a tribute to her here
Debbie got the tattoo in 2018 after waiting four months on the waiting list. The tattoo took two days to complete.
She said: "I was looking to turn it into a full sleeve tattoo with all the symbols of being British. I was thinking about adding Westminster Abbey, London Bridge and other British landmarks. But after having this tattoo take two days, I have never added to it."
Debbie said she was "devastated" after hearing the news of the Queen's death and said the tattoo on her calf is even more special to her now.
She said: "It is one of those things that you think about when getting a tattoo. It is going to be there for life and after this week it feels a lot more special now. I was devastated when I heard the news. I was following the story all afternoon and I was travelling home from work when I heard. I was very upset."
Debbie has headed to London to pay her respects. She added: "I am going to Buckingham Palace, to lay some flowers in Green Park and to soak up the atmosphere."
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