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The Queen met victims of the Manchester bombing in a poignant visit to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital today.

Her Majesty called the massacre "wicked" as she met children injured in the blast as well as emergency staff who worked throughout the night in the aftermath of terror attack.

Twelve children under the age of 16 - among the 64 casualties - were taken to the hospital by ambulance following the terror attack.

The same hospital was visited by Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday afternoon.

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 wounded in the attack carried out by the mass murderer Salman Abedi.

The Queen personally gave her thanks to the heroic hospital staff who worked tirelessly to keep the children alive in the hours after the tragedy.

The monarch, 91, spent time at the bedside of Millie Robson, 15, from Co Durham, who was wounded in the attack. Her mother, Marie, and dad, David were at her bedside.

The Queen asked Millie, who suffered injuries to her legs, if she had enjoyed the concert before the attack, prompting the teenager to reveal she had won two VIP passes and met the global superstar backstage.

The royal described the atrocity as "very alarming" and wished Millie a speedy recovery.

"It's not something you expect at all," the Queen said to father David, who was waiting at the exit of the arena for Millie when the bomb exploded.

She also spent time with Evie Mills, 14, from Harrogate, and her mother, Karen and father Craig.

Manchester Arena Terror Attack: Victims 16 show all Manchester Arena Terror Attack: Victims 1/16 Nell Jones, 14, who died in the Manchester attack PA 2/16 Jane Tweddle, 50 of Blackpool, was also killed 3/16 'Inseperable couple' Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19 4/16 Scottish teenager Eilidh MacLeod, 14, was confirmed to have been killed in the blast PA 5/16 Michelle Kiss died in the blast. Her family have said they are "absolutely devastated" PA 6/16 Saffie-Rose Roussos eight, from Lancashire, had been at the concert with her mother and sister when she was killed in the blast 7/16 Wendy Fawell died in the attack Collect 8/16 Olivia Campbell, 15, is also confirmed among the dead after a desperate search to find her 9/16 Ariana Grande ‘superfan’ Georgina Callander, 18, was one of the first victims to be named 10/16 Lisa Lees and Alison Howe were killed while waiting in the foyer to collect their children Facebook 11/16 Kelly Brewster died shielding her niece from the blast 12/16 John Atkinson, 26, was also killed in the suicide blast 13/16 Polish couple Angelika and Marcin Klis are confirmed among the dead in the Manchester attack Credit: Family photograph 14/16 Victim: Martyn Hett has been confirmed as one of those killed in the attack 15/16 Confirmed dead: 14-year-old Sorrell Leczowski Facebook 16/16 Victim: Elaine McIver, an off-duty police officer Greater Manchester Police 1/16 Nell Jones, 14, who died in the Manchester attack PA 2/16 Jane Tweddle, 50 of Blackpool, was also killed 3/16 'Inseperable couple' Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19 4/16 Scottish teenager Eilidh MacLeod, 14, was confirmed to have been killed in the blast PA 5/16 Michelle Kiss died in the blast. Her family have said they are "absolutely devastated" PA 6/16 Saffie-Rose Roussos eight, from Lancashire, had been at the concert with her mother and sister when she was killed in the blast 7/16 Wendy Fawell died in the attack Collect 8/16 Olivia Campbell, 15, is also confirmed among the dead after a desperate search to find her 9/16 Ariana Grande ‘superfan’ Georgina Callander, 18, was one of the first victims to be named 10/16 Lisa Lees and Alison Howe were killed while waiting in the foyer to collect their children Facebook 11/16 Kelly Brewster died shielding her niece from the blast 12/16 John Atkinson, 26, was also killed in the suicide blast 13/16 Polish couple Angelika and Marcin Klis are confirmed among the dead in the Manchester attack Credit: Family photograph 14/16 Victim: Martyn Hett has been confirmed as one of those killed in the attack 15/16 Confirmed dead: 14-year-old Sorrell Leczowski Facebook 16/16 Victim: Elaine McIver, an off-duty police officer Greater Manchester Police

The Queen told victim Evie and her parents: "It's dreadful. Very wicked. To target that sort of thing."

Millie Robson, 15, was wearing an Ariana Grande t-shirt as she met and shared words with the royal visitor.

The Queen also met Amy Barlow, 12, from Helmshore, Lancashire.

The Queen visits Manchester victims 5 show all The Queen visits Manchester victims 1/5 Queen Elizabeth II speaks to Millie Robson, 15, who survived the attack in Manchester PA 2/5 Queen Elizabeth II arrives to see victims and medical workers PA 3/5 The Queen personally thanked members of staff who treated victims PA 4/5 Escorted by Kathy Cowell (right) Chairman of the Central Manchester University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II meets hospital workers PA 5/5 The Queen shakes hands with staff at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital PA 1/5 Queen Elizabeth II speaks to Millie Robson, 15, who survived the attack in Manchester PA 2/5 Queen Elizabeth II arrives to see victims and medical workers PA 3/5 The Queen personally thanked members of staff who treated victims PA 4/5 Escorted by Kathy Cowell (right) Chairman of the Central Manchester University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II meets hospital workers PA 5/5 The Queen shakes hands with staff at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital PA

She was joined by mum Cathy - who said she had not left the hospital since the pair were caught up in the attack - and dad Grant.

The group discussed the incredible community response to the atrocity before the Queen departed.

Earlier, the Queen described her shock at the targeting of young victims as she met several groups of clinicians, doctors, nurses and porters - all of whom had contributed to the emergency effort.

"The awful thing was that everyone was so young. The age of them," she told one member of staff.

She learnt about the role each had played on the night - including how many had come in from home to offer their help - and commended them for "coming together".

The royal visitor was met by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith as she arrived.

Her visit came shortly after staff gathered outside the hospital for a minute's silence, when they remembered those who had lost their lives, before bursting into spontaneous applause.

Children as young as eight were among those killed when Salman Abedi, 22, detonated an improvised explosive device minutes after pop star Ariana Grande finished performing at Manchester Arena on Monday night.

Her visit came shortly after people up and down the UK held a moving silence to remember the victims.

Millions of people have observed a minute's silence marking the nation's solidarity with those who were killed and injured in the blast as well as others affected by the atrocity.

The largest gathering was in St Ann's Square in Manchester, where thousand stood around the floral tributes that have been laid since the tragedy on Monday.