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Queen meets 'Britain's Schindler' | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A British man who saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis ahead of World War II has met the Queen during her visit to Slovakia. | |
Sir Nicholas Winton, 99, transported 670 youngsters to the UK from what was then Czechoslovakia. | |
The monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh on the visit, as part of a four-day tour of central Europe. | |
Earlier, President Ivan Gasparovic showed her around the presidential palace in the capital Bratislava. | |
'Incredible man' | |
Sir Nicholas met the Queen at Devin Castle, on the banks of the River Danube, along with some of the now grown-up children he rescued. | |
He has been nicknamed "Britain's Schindler", a reference to the German businessman Oskar Schindler who also saved Jewish lives during WWII. | |
As a 29-year-old stockbroker, Sir Nicholas visited Prague and was so concerned by the treatment of the Jewish population that he started transporting children out of danger. | |
The Queen was saluted by a guard of honour at the presidential palace | |
About 70,000 Czech and Slovak Jews are believed to have perished in the Nazi gas chambers and concentration camps. | |
The Nobel Peace Prize nominee said: "It's nice to know that something one does in one's life was successful." | |
One of those rescued was Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, who was in Slovakia to pay his respects. | |
He said: "I owe him my life, he is an incredible man. I would not be here today if it were not for him." | |
The Queen was shown the site of the Iron Curtain boundary during a tour of the castle, which is near the border where Sir Nicholas smuggled the children to safety. | |
Traditional folk dancers entertained the Queen in the rain | |
On arrival in Bratislava, the monarch received a traditional welcome gift of salt and bread before watching folk dancing in the central square. | |
President Gasparovic then showed her the presidential palace, where she was saluted by an 80-strong honour guard. | |
The soldiers shouted "glory" during the military salute in honour of the royal guest. | The soldiers shouted "glory" during the military salute in honour of the royal guest. |
The visit followed a two-day tour of Slovenia where the Queen, a keen equestrian, was presented with a Lipizzaner horse. | The visit followed a two-day tour of Slovenia where the Queen, a keen equestrian, was presented with a Lipizzaner horse. |