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Queen praises UK-Lithuania links | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Queen has made the keynote speech of her tour of the Baltic republics during the first full day of her official visit to Eastern Europe. | |
She spoke at a parliamentary session in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. | |
The monarch said she was encouraged by the "freedom of movement and labour" between the UK and Lithuania. | |
It is her first trip to the Baltic states since the break-up of the Soviet Union. The tour of three new EU members will last five days. | |
During her speech, the Queen said the UK and Lithuania "share an interest in building a Europe that is outward looking". | |
The monarch's day also involves meeting signatories of the Declaration of Independence drafted when freedom from the USSR was granted. | |
The Queen, who is accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will travel to Latvia and Estonia after Lithuania. | The Queen, who is accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will travel to Latvia and Estonia after Lithuania. |
Royal relative | Royal relative |
During the trip she will talk to relatives of those who died as they tried to defend Lithuania against a Moscow-inspired attempted putsch on 13 January 1991. | |
Fourteen people died during subsequent bloodshed and hundreds were injured. | Fourteen people died during subsequent bloodshed and hundreds were injured. |
The independence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was recognised by Moscow in September 1991. | The independence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was recognised by Moscow in September 1991. |
The Queen and Prince Philip will also attend a state banquet in the evening. | The Queen and Prince Philip will also attend a state banquet in the evening. |
The royal visit is expected to generate much interest, particularly after it emerged that she is related to one of the country's key historical figures. | The royal visit is expected to generate much interest, particularly after it emerged that she is related to one of the country's key historical figures. |
Alfredas Bumblauskas, a local university professor, claims to have found that the Queen is descended from Grand Duke Gediminas - a monarch of medieval Lithuania. | |
Colin Roberts, Britain's ambassador, said: "He's meant to be a great-grandfather times 20 - about 20 generations away." | Colin Roberts, Britain's ambassador, said: "He's meant to be a great-grandfather times 20 - about 20 generations away." |