The Queen has designed her own silk handkerchief as she toured an ancient textile market during her state visit to Turkey.

The monarch tried her hand at the Ebru technique of printing as she walked around the bustling Koza Han silk market in the eastern city of Bursa.

The sovereign was greeted by around a thousand cheering locals when she arrived at the well preserved bazaar built in the 15th century.

The Queen was joined on the trip to the former capital of the Ottoman empire by the Duke of Edinburgh and President Abdullah Gul's wife Hayrunnisa.

A state banquet was held in honour of the royal couple on Tuesday night, but Mrs Gul angered the country's military leaders by wearing an Islamic headscarf.

The republic's top brass are defenders of Turkey's secular heritage and have never accepted the President's wife's decision to wear the head covering.

The Queen's four-day state visit to the republic is designed to highlight and strengthen Britain's ties with Turkey, which the UK is supporting in its campaign to become a member of the EU.

The visit to Bursa gave the small silk boutiques the chance to show the Queen colourful shawls, scarfs and pashminas.

In one outlet shop owner Ali Yildiz said the Monarch bought a pair of raw silk embroidered cushion covers for £100.

He said afterwards: "Her being here is such a big honour for Bursa and it's a nice gesture. I've heard the Queen likes Turks and we like her in return."

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