The Queen was dressed in violet in honour of the southern French city

The Queen has visited the French city of Toulouse at the end of a state visit to the country, to mark 100 years of close links with Britain.

In a day of what the BBC's Nicholas Witchell called "quiet contemplation", she visited a church in the southern city and strolled around the market.

She later visited an Airbus factory to name a new Virgin Atlantic jet.

The Queen was dressed boldly in violet. Toulouse is sometimes known as the city of violets for its flower plantations.

The Queen's three-day visit is marking 100 years of the Entente Cordiale, a friendly understanding signed by the two countries in 1904 to end centuries of rivalries.

Toulouse was the site of the last battle on French soil between the two nations in 1814.

Today it is visited by thousands of Britons for business and pleasure, and is known for its aircraft-building as well as its violets.

ANGLO-FRENCH KEY MOMENTS 1904 - Entente Cordiale signed 1914 - UK sends troops to help the French in WW1 1941 - Charles de Gaulle says "Britain and France are bound together, for life and death, by the same destiny or by the same ideal" during WW2 1956 - Britain and France begin work on a supersonic jet 1963 - De Gaulle vetoes UK's bid to join the Common Market 1976 - Concorde flies for the first time 1994 - Channel Tunnel opens 2002 - Jacques Chirac, cancels Anglo-French summit after accusing Tony Blair of speaking to him rudely 2003 - Concorde completes last flight Queen's visit: In pictures Pleasantries are order of the day

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, was met at the airport in Toulouse by French President Jacques Chirac's wife Bernadette and French justice minister, Dominique Perben.

They were later joined by UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, and the mayor of Toulouse Philippe Douste-Blazy.

One man was arrested at the edge of the square during her walkabout, after climbing up a signpost to make a protest relating to Rwanda.

Later in a speech delivered in French, the Queen highlighted the importance of co-operation between nations, and highlighted Britain and France's shared spirit of scientific discoveries.

She witnessed an example of such cooperation at Airbus, where Britain, France and others are building a new plane.

The Queen spent the first two days of her tour in Paris.

On Tuesday, she called for the UK and France not to weaken their strong ties with the US.

And on Monday, she warned that Britain and France could not afford to be divided while facing threats to their security.