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Slovaks welcome Queen to capital Queen meets 'Britain's Schindler'
(about 4 hours later)
The Queen received a traditional Slovak welcome when she arrived in the capital Bratislava during her four-day state visit to central Europe. 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.
The monarch was presented with a gift of salt and bread by a couple dressed in national costume. Sir Nicholas Winton, 99, transported 670 youngsters to the UK from what was then Czechoslovakia.
President Ivan Gasparovic showed her the presidential palace where she was saluted by an 80-strong honour guard. The monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh on the visit, as part of a four-day tour of central Europe.
She also met Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sir Nicholas Winton - known as "Britain's Schindler" - on her visit. Earlier, President Ivan Gasparovic showed her around the presidential palace in the capital Bratislava.
The Queen was dressed in a red outfit as she inspected the guard of honour on her first trip to the country. 'Incredible man'
'Britain's Schindler' 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.
She also watched a colourful display of traditional folk-dancing in the main square.
Later, the monarch met Sir Nicholas Winton at Devin Castle along with some of the 670 Jewish children from the then Czechoslovakia whom he rescued before World War II.
The Queen met Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sir Nicholas Winton
The 99-year-old saved them by transporting them back to Britain.
He made the trip to Slovakia especially to meet the Queen near the border where he smuggled the children to safety.
The Queen arrived in Slovakia accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
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.