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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Queen begins Slovenia state visit | Queen begins Slovenia state visit |
| (about 4 hours 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 meets schoolchildren in Slovenia | |
| 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. |
| Animal costumes | |
| After the exchange the Queen was treated to a musical performance by children from the British International School in Ljubljana. | |
| The pupils, dressed in an variety of animal costumes, sang The Lion Sleeps Tonight and a version of William Blake's The Tyger for the Queen. | |
| She smiled as the children, some of whom were just two-and-a-half years old, danced in front of her. | |
| The royal couple were then toasted at a formal reception hosted by the British ambassador. | |
| 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. |
| Slovenian President Danilo Turk praised the Queen | |
| The Queen will also get to meet the stallion she has been presented with but it will stay behind when she leaves Slovenia. | |
| Earlier Mr Turk said the monarch "was in a different league". | |
| He said: "She has special stature as a moral authority - as a symbol of both great tradition in Europe and also of innovation which is something that Britain is known for. | |
| "It is a combination of these qualities and people appreciate it." | |
| 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. |
| 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 Turkey in July this year to promote relations between the secular Muslim country and the UK. |