THE Queen officially opened the Welsh Assembly today as Assembly Members gathered for the fourth session at the Senedd.

The presence of the Queen marks a new period for the Assembly, which for the first time will be passing Assembly Acts.

She praised the Welsh Assembly, saying it had an "impressive record of achievement’’ and had "coped admirably with the growth in powers granted to it’’.

The Queen, dressed in a turquoise and white dress with matching hat and knee-length coat, was met by Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler and First Minister Carwyn Jones, who was re-appointed after leading Labour to victory in last month's Assembly elections.

Mr Jones's appointment was rubber-stamped by the Queen after he was reinstated at the Assembly's first post-election plenary session, but this was her first visit to the Senedd since 2007.

The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also attended today's opening.

The royal party were greeted by hundreds of schoolchildren who cheered and waved flags as they stood on the steps to the Senedd.

A flypast of four Hawks from 208(R) Squadron RAF Valley flew overhead following both the English and Welsh national anthems.

Opening the Assembly, the Queen congratulated Welsh AMs on their election and spoke of the extension of new devolved powers.

She told AMs they had a duty to represent the interests of their constituents and the vital functions of democracy now rested on the AMs' shoulders.

Speaking in the Chamber, the Queen said: "The National Assembly of Wales can call upon an impressive record of achievement.

"It has coped admirably with the growth in the powers granted to it since devolution.

"During the various evolutionary stages of devolution in Wales, the Assembly has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for diligence and competence.

"You are now entrusted with the authority to make laws in all matters contained within the 20 subjects devolved to the Assembly and, for the first time, you will be passing Assembly Acts.

"The performance of the Assembly in discharging these new responsibilities will be closely scrutinised here in Wales and elsewhere.’’