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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Queen begins Slovenia state visit | Queen begins Slovenia state visit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have begun a two-day state visit to Slovenia at the invitation of the country's president, Danilo Turk. | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have begun a two-day state visit to Slovenia at the invitation of the country's president, Danilo Turk. |
| It is the first time they have been to the country since its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and entry into the European Union in 2004. | It is the first time they have been to the country since its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and entry into the European Union in 2004. |
| They will visit the home of Slovenia's Lipizzaner horses where the Queen will be presented with a white stallion. | They will visit the home of Slovenia's Lipizzaner horses where the Queen will be presented with a white stallion. |
| The royals will then travel to Slovakia to meet President Ivan Gasparovic. | The royals will then travel to Slovakia to meet President Ivan Gasparovic. |
| The trip to Slovenia has been organised to celebrate the country's achievements during its short history and will include a state banquet and a walkabout in the capital Ljubljana. | The trip to Slovenia has been organised to celebrate the country's achievements during its short history and will include a state banquet and a walkabout in the capital Ljubljana. |
| The Royal couple were accompanied by foreign secretary David Miliband and his wife Louise on their flight into Joze Pucnik Airport. | The Royal couple were accompanied by foreign secretary David Miliband and his wife Louise on their flight into Joze Pucnik Airport. |
| Ceremonial reception | Ceremonial reception |
| The Queen, who wore a turquoise and black dress and hat, was presented with a bunch of cream roses by two primary school children before starting her first engagement. | The Queen, who wore a turquoise and black dress and hat, was presented with a bunch of cream roses by two primary school children before starting her first engagement. |
| Well-wishers lined the streets as the Queen's convoy made its way to Brdo Castle, a 16th century residence which was once used by Marshal Tito as his summer residence. | Well-wishers lined the streets as the Queen's convoy made its way to Brdo Castle, a 16th century residence which was once used by Marshal Tito as his summer residence. |
| President Turk and his wife Barbara Miklic greeted the Queen and Prince Philip in public before retiring for a private 20-minute long meeting. | President Turk and his wife Barbara Miklic greeted the Queen and Prince Philip in public before retiring for a private 20-minute long meeting. |
| Following their discussion, the couples exchanged gifts between the two nations in a show of friendship.The Queen exchanged gifts with the Slovenian president | Following their discussion, the couples exchanged gifts between the two nations in a show of friendship.The Queen exchanged gifts with the Slovenian president |
| The Queen was presented with a unique gold leaf tea set with a decoration inspired by London's Big Ben and the carnation - the Slovenian national flower. | The Queen was presented with a unique gold leaf tea set with a decoration inspired by London's Big Ben and the carnation - the Slovenian national flower. |
| "That's a teapot," said the prince, and added that it looked "very different" to those he was accustomed to. | "That's a teapot," said the prince, and added that it looked "very different" to those he was accustomed to. |
| The Queen told Mr Turk: "Well, I think that is very kind." | The Queen told Mr Turk: "Well, I think that is very kind." |
| The prince was given a book on heraldic insignia and devices which the Queen described as "fascinating". | The prince was given a book on heraldic insignia and devices which the Queen described as "fascinating". |
| Mr Turk and his wife were given gifts including a book of Holbein drawings from the Windsor archive and a silver trinket box. | Mr Turk and his wife were given gifts including a book of Holbein drawings from the Windsor archive and a silver trinket box. |
| The president was also presented with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. | The president was also presented with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. |
| The Queen is due to be given a tour of the stud farm for the Lipizzaner horses, the breed used by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. | The Queen is due to be given a tour of the stud farm for the Lipizzaner horses, the breed used by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. |
| The Queen will also get to meet the stallion - which will stay behind when she leaves Slovenia. | The Queen will also get to meet the stallion - which will stay behind when she leaves Slovenia. |
| Ice-hockey games | Ice-hockey games |
| The visit marks the start of a four-day trip to central Europe which also takes in Slovakia. | The visit marks the start of a four-day trip to central Europe which also takes in Slovakia. |
| Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk praised the Queen | |
| In the Slovakian capital Bratislava, the couple will attend a ceremonial reception organised by British ambassador Michael Roberts. | In the Slovakian capital Bratislava, the couple will attend a ceremonial reception organised by British ambassador Michael Roberts. |
| Prince Philip will take part in a discussion on climate change organised by the British Council in Slovakia and the Queen is expected to open an ice-hockey match between local team Poprad and UK side Guildford. | Prince Philip will take part in a discussion on climate change organised by the British Council in Slovakia and the Queen is expected to open an ice-hockey match between local team Poprad and UK side Guildford. |
| The royal couple are also expected to visit the Tatras mountains close to the Polish border. | The royal couple are also expected to visit the Tatras mountains close to the Polish border. |
| Their last state visit was to meet the king and queen of Belgium in July 2007 to mark the 90th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele. | Their last state visit was to meet the king and queen of Belgium in July 2007 to mark the 90th anniversary of the battle of Passchendaele. |