Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic heroes have been celebrated at a glittering Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen.
Star sportsmen and women who won gold for the nation during the summer's extravaganza of sport were invited to the palace to mark their achievements.
The athletes arrived in their official Team GB formal wear of suits, which included a special inside pocket for their medals.
The Queen, joined by the Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cambridge, had watched the Olympic opening ceremony - and famously took part.
Team GB began the summer's medal rush by winning 65 in total, including 29 golds, an achievement that was hailed as the athletes' "greatest ever" performance by Andy Hunt, their chef de mission for London 2012.
The sportsmen and women easily surpassed their Beijing 2008 medal haul of 47.
Amongst the sports stars who delighted the home crowds and the world with podium topping performances were heptathlete Jessica Ennis, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and sailor Ben Ainslie and double gold-winning runner Mo Farah. The Paralympics saw Great Britain achieve unprecedented success with 120 medals, including 34 golds.
The Queen and Philip met Prime Minister David Cameron, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt - formerly Culture Secretary - and other senior figures who made the Games possible, including Lord Coe, former chair of London 2012, in the Palace's 18th Century Room. They were soon joined by Kate, wearing an outfit by Alice Temperley, who chatted to all the guests and shared a laugh with the Prime Minister.
Mr Cameron said before joining the main reception: "It was an amazing summer and I think people will cherish those memories, you know, almost more then the 1966 World Cup. I think people will look back and just think, 'what an incredible summer' - success after success, medal after medal and the whole country putting on its very best face for the world."
Amongst the royals hosting their guests were the Duke of York and his daughter Princess Beatrice, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Zara Phillips, who won a team silver in the Olympic Equestrian competition, joined her fellow competitors and helped introduce them to her grandmother the Queen.
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