Prince Philip's Funeral

The Duke of Edinburgh funeral and interment will commence on Saturday, April 17th at 3:00pm. His funeral service will be at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The prince will be interred in the Royal Vault in St. George's Chapel.

Prince Philip Dies At 99

 

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died Friday at the age of ninety-nine. The statement was made on The Royal Family website. The Duke of Edinburgh was Queen Elizabeth's, as in her words, "my strength and stay all these years." The queen and her prince were married for seventy-three years. He was her consort for sixty-nine years. 

The duke was associated with nine hundred and ninety-two organisations. His special interests included scientific and technological research and development, the welfare of young people, education, conservation, the environment and the encouragement of sport. He was the founder and patron of The Duke of Edinburgh Award. His son, Prince Edward, achieved the Gold Award in 1986.

The duke served in the Royal Navy.

Philip was quite the sportsman. He loved cricket, polo, sailing and carriage driving. He was known for watching cricket on the telly in the royal box during horse racing season.

The Duke of Edinburgh is survived by The Queen, four children, eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

The Earl Of Wessex Makes First Visit to South Carolina

The Earl of Wessex will be in Greenville, South Carolina next week to bestow The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Americans’ Challenge on seventy-eight Miss South Carolina contestants. It is the first all-female organization in the United States to receive the honour. Seventy females will be given the Bronze Award whilst the other eight will receive the Silver Award. The prince earned his Gold Award in 1986.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award focusses on community service, skills, environmental journeys, physical recreation and residential projects.

Prince Edward is a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the International Foundation. He is the chair of the International Council.

The earl’s father The Duke of Edinburgh founded the programme in 1956. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award received a Royal Charter in 2006 on its 50th anniversary.

For more information on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, visit the official website.

For more information on the International Award for Young People, visit the official website.

Photo: © The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

Queen Elizabeth’s First Visit to Slovenia and Slovakia

It is the first visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to the countries of Slovenia and Slovakia. With the usual pomp and circumstance, the visit began in Slovenia yesterday afternoon. She was welcomed by Slovenian President Danilo Tuerk at Brdo Castle and later in the evening she toasted the president and his wife at a state banquet.

This morning, she visited Lipica Stud Farms which was founded in 1580. Whilst there, she was presented with a Lipizzaner horse nicknamed Kanizo. Included in her tour, was a demonstration by the skilled riders of the Lipica Riding School.

Tomorrow, she will wrap up her visit with a military farewell in Slovenia and head over to Slovakia to meet President Ivan Gašparovič at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. Her tour ends on October 24th.

Below is the full text of Queen Elizabeth II’s speech at the State Banquet in Ljubljana, Slovenia on October 21, 2008.

"Mr. President,"

"Thank you very much for your kind welcome. Prince Philip and I are delighted to be paying our first visit to Slovenia so soon after your highly successful first Presidency of the European Union. I congratulate you for discharging those responsibilities so skilfully and thank you for the close co-operation between our two countries during such a busy period."

"This achievement has been all the more striking when we recall that it is only seventeen years since you first emerged as an independent European nation. Slovenia's transformation since 1991 is a remarkable tribute to the country's energy, vision and determination."

"The Slovenian state may be young, but her people have made a rich contribution to the life of Europe, in arts, science and letters. One important symbol of Slovenia, with deep and colourful historical roots, is of course the Lipizzaner horse which originated here. Tomorrow, Prince Philip and I will visit Lipica to learn more about a breed which has been prized for centuries in stables across the continent and with which Slovenia so strongly identifies itself."

"Contacts between our two nations go back many centuries. In 1687, your great scientist and historian Janez Valvasor was elected to our Royal Society for his contributions to our understanding of the natural world. In recent years we have lent his name to a scholarship scheme for Slovenian students in the United Kingdom."

"History dictated that the identity of Slovenia's people and their aspirations to be an independent European nation could only be fully achieved in the final decade of the Twentieth Century. Slovenia quickly made up for lost time and was strongly supported throughout the 1990s by the United Kingdom in its bid to join the European Union and NATO. The close ties established then with your government, judiciary, police and armed forces continue to flourish."

"Today, we are partners with Slovenia in transferring the lessons of her success to third countries in the West Balkans and beyond. I should also like to pay particular tribute to Slovenia's generous contributions to humanitarian and peacekeeping missions on the wider international stage. The United Kingdom is proud to be working alongside our Slovenian allies in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan."

"While co-operation between our governments is invaluable, we are also committed to the human dimension of our friendship. There is no better place to start this than with young people. Prince Philip and I are delighted that The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award for Young People is active in Slovenia, and even more so to learn that you, Mr. President, have taken a personal interest in its future."

"I must also mention the long-standing affection of British visitors for the Julian Alps, which dates back to the beginnings of Slovenian tourism in the 1920s. Winter and summer, British visitors continue to come here to admire the beauty of your mountains, forests and lakes and to enjoy the warmth and generosity of Slovenian hospitality. What is more, growing numbers of British people are making a second home in Slovenia."

"Looking to the future, I am confident that relations between our two countries will continue to prosper. I hope that this visit will demonstrate the importance the United Kingdom attaches to our relationship with Slovenia, as a partner in Europe and an ally in NATO, with whom we share so many common values and aspirations. For Prince Philip and myself, it is a very great pleasure to be with you."

"So please join me, ladies and gentlemen, in a toast to the President and people of the Republic of Slovenia."

Photo: Associated Press/Srdjan Zivulovic

Queen Elizabeth II Gets Googled

Since the launch of The Royal Channel on YouTube last December, the queen has proven yet again that she is well aware of the popular mediums available for the technology savvy user. Her second son, Prince Andrew and the Duke of Edinburgh keep her abreast of the latest technologies. With these two avid computers users in her household, it was not an unusual venture for the eighty-two year old monarch to visit Google’s British headquarters this week.

Below is a YouTube video clip of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Google.


For more information on The Royal Channel, visit the official website.

Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary Celebrations for King Michael I and Queen Ana of Romania

Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to accomplish the feat of celebrating her sixtieth wedding anniversary to the Duke of Edinburgh on November 14, 2007, but on June 10, 2008 the British monarch was no longer the only one. Former King Michael I and Queen Ana of Romania marked their auspicious occasion with three days of celebration this week. Besides several private events, the royal couple attended a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum. As tribute to the milestone, a volume written by their eldest daughter Princess Margareta and her husband Prince Radu entitled “Nunta de Diamant” was released at the National History Museum of Romania.

Initially, it was at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey that Michael and Ana first met. Queen Ana recalled how she was quite taken by Michael dressed in his military uniform. Evidently, the attraction was mutual because he proposed to her a week after their first meeting. The couple married at Tatoi in Greece in 1948. They have five daughters: Margareta, Elena, Irina, Sofia and Maria.

On a personal note, my husband Michael and I celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary next week. Incidentally, my husband proposed to me three weeks after we first met and so I raise a toast to those whose marriages have even surpassed the first year and many more hereafter.

Below is the list of royal attendees to the Diamond Wedding celebration of King Michael I and Queen Ana of Romania on June 10, 2008.

HM Queen Sofía of Spain
HM King Simeon of Bulgaria
HM Queen Margarita of Bulgaria
HM King Constantine II of Greece
HM Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
ASIR Prince Lorenz of Belgium
ASIR Archduke Karl of Austria
HRH Prince Alexander II of Serbia and Yugoslavia
HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia and Yugoslavia
HRH Morritz, Landgrave of Hesse
HRH Prince Maximilian II of Baden
ASIR Markgraffin of Baden
HRH Duarte Pio, Ducele of Branganza
HRH Prince Amedeo of Savoia, Duke of Aosta
HRH Princess Silvia of Savoia, Duchess of Aosta
ASIR Archduke Christian of Austria
ASIR Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
HRH Prince Ludwig of Baden
HRH Princess Marianne of Baden
HRH Prince Philippe de Bourbon-Parma
HRH Princess Annette de Bourbon-Parma
Lorraine HRH Princess of Bourbon-Parma
Countess Marie Holstein-Ledreborg
SSA Prince Charles of Thurn und Taxis
SSA Veronica Princess of Thurn und Taxis
Dr. John Fruchaud
SSA Princess Tatiana Radziwill, Mrs. John Fruchaud

For more information on the Romanian Royal Family, visit the official website.

Photos: Monarchy of Romania, REUTERS

Country Life Magazine Features Sandringham House

A rare glimpse of Sandringham House is featured in this week’s issue of Country Life Magazine. The guide for the royal tour was none other than the Duke of Edinburgh. With the Duke's permission, the photographer for the feature, Will Pryce, captured on film some rooms never shown to the public until now. The issue was released on Wednesday.

The Country Life magazine article, Sandringham - The Norfolk home of HM the Queen, can be read here.

Queen Elizabeth II Lays Wreath at Anitkabir

Queen Elizabeth II’s last visit to Turkey was in October 1971. Returning thirty-six years later, she paid her respects to Mustafa Kemel Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, by attending a wreath-laying ceremony at Anitkabir yesterday. After the ceremony, she wrote in the guest book the following:

“It is an honour to pay my respects to Mustafa Kemel Atatürk, a much valued friend of the United Kingdom and one of the great figures of modern history.”

Elizabeth R

The queen paid tribute to the Turkish Republic founder again in her state banquet speech as she toasted President Abdullah Gul last night in Ankara and said: "Thank you for your kind words and the generous welcome we have received today. Prince Philip and I are delighted to be back in Turkey more than 36 years after our last visit of which we have many happy memories. Here in 1971, I remarked on the tremendous achievement of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in guiding this country of rich and ancient traditions along a course towards a modern, enlightened and democratic state. One could hardly have imagined then the further strides that Turkey would take to become today's confident and dynamic democracy. In this new century, we can celebrate the links between our two countries as being stronger than ever."

"The geography of this nation has, over time, not only determined much of the history of its own people but also had a powerful impact upon the wider world. Beyond being home to some of the earliest human settlements and the classical civilisation of Ancient Troy, this country occupies a key place in both Islam and Christianity."

"At its height, the Ottoman Empire, with its capital in Istanbul, stretched from the gates of Vienna to North Africa. The strategic location of this country, straddling two continents, drew many into some of the bloodiest battles of the First World War, including those commemorated recently on the Gallipoli peninsula. From the ruins of that war, not only did Atatürk become the father of this modern nation, but he also famously declared that those who had come from overseas and lost their lives in this land had become Turkey's sons as well. Those sentiments echo to this day in a relationship which the United Kingdom greatly prizes."

"For us, Turkey is as important now as it has ever been. Within this country, the prospect of accession to the European Union has already helped to inspire changes that are improving the lives of its citizens. Abroad, Turkey is uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West at a crucial time for the European Union and the world in general."

Besides visiting Ankara, Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend events in the the cities of Bursa and Istanbul. They will stay in Turkey until May 16th.

Queen Elizabeth II's entire speech from the state banquet in Ankara, Turkey can be read here.

Photos: Press Association

Britain’s Oldest Reigning Monarch Turns Eighty-Two

Queen Elizabeth II has much to celebrate as she turned eighty-two today. Last December, she surpassed her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the oldest reigning monarch on the British throne. And this past November, she and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, quite a feat even for a monarch.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2:40am in 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936.

Elizabeth’s reign has lasted through ten British Prime Ministers, the latest being Gordon Brown. The queen has dedicated herself completely to her role and she surmised her monumental undertaking many years ago whilst still a princess at the age of twenty-one and said, "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

Photo: Press Association

Christening of Viscount Severn

James was christened in the private chapel at Windsor Castle today. He wore a replica of Princess Victoria’s 1841 Honiton lace christening gown. The names of the five godparents for Viscount Severn are Alistair Bruce, Duncan Bullivant, Thomas Hill, Jeanye Irwin and Denise Poulton. The service was presided over by the Dean of Windsor, Rt Rev David Conner. The viscount is Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh’s eighth grandchild.

The BBC News, Queen sees grandson's christening, can be read here.

Photo: John Swannell/Camera Press

Dr. Ian Paisley Greets the Queen at East Belfast Mission Hall

Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Northern Ireland this week. One of her engagements included a tour of East Belfast Mission Hall. The mission was established in 1985 “to engage in community development and service in the Newtownards Road, Ballymacarrett district of Belfast.” Upon her arrival, the monarch was received by several dignitaries including the First Minister of Northern Ireland Assembly, Dr. Ian Paisley. As part of the tour, Queen Elizabeth was briefed on the Skainos Project, a programme that will focus on “community transformation and renewal in East Belfast.”

For more information on the East Belfast Mission Hall, visit the official website.

For more information on the Skainos Project, visit the official website.

Photo: REUTERS

Viscount Severn Given the Name James

The Earl and Countess of Wessex have settled on a name for their son, Viscount Severn. His four names are James Alexander Philip Theo.

The Royalist article, Edward & Sophie Name New Son James, can be read here.

His grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh and Christopher Rhys-Jones have expressed their satisfaction with the chosen names of Viscount Severn.

The Buckingham Palace press release, Names Announced for Viscount Severn, can be read here.

Photo: Press Association

Countess Of Wessex Plans for Christmas Day Birth

According to Angella Johnson of the Daily Mail, Sophie, Countess of Wessex is planning to give birth to her second child on Christmas Day. She and her husband, Prince Edward, are the parents of one daughter, Louise, born on November 8, 2003. Currently, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh have seven grandchildren: Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Lady Louise.

60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration for Elizabeth and Philip

Before Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary yesterday, the auspicious event was celebrated with a Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey on November 19th. In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, elucidated: “Every marriage is an act of faith. When you think about it, the promise to be in the company of the same person for a lifetime is an extraordinary thing to undertake; it is a statement of trust in one another and in the future which can never be free of risk.”

Below is the full text of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon from Westminster Abbey’s Service of Celebration on November 19th.

"Every marriage is an act of faith. When you think about it, the promise to be in the company of the same person for a lifetime is an extraordinary thing to undertake; it is a statement of trust in one another and in the future which can never be free of risk."

"Another person, however well I think I know him or her, however confident I am about the mutual attraction between us, is still going to be deeply mysterious, beyond my control. Giving away my life to them is quite a step."

"That's one reason why marriage has been associated with another kind of faith or trust."

"A couple undertaking Christian marriage express their trust not only in each other and the future but in God."

"They declare that they expect there to be something for them to draw upon that is more than just their own strength, their own capacity to love; they open up their relationship to God's love, in the hope that when they face difficulties they will be able to offer one another more than simply their own individual words and feelings."

"When a couple get married in the sight of God, they become - in the church's language - ministers of the gospel to each other. They are equipped and authorised to tell each other good news from God."

"And the act of faith that is marriage becomes an act of faith that each partner in the relationship will always be able to share that good news with the other."

"And what is that good news? Very simply, it is the news that God considers every moment of your life worthwhile; that God is committed to your human joy and fulfilment and that he will not desert you even when you run away from him."

"When one person promises another to be faithful for the rest of their life, it is a sort of echo of this divine promise; and when this promise is explicitly anchored in an appeal to God's promise, God's faithfulness in offering new beginnings, it has a special force."

"It is not only that the promise becomes more powerful for the two persons most directly involved; it becomes a more eloquent sign to the rest of us."

"Here is a relationship which proclaims something profound and exhilarating about our humanity: a human being is worth spending a lifetime on, a lifetime of loving attention; and also a human being is capable of giving a lifetime's attention."

"Humanity is shown to be at once immeasurably worthwhile and also free to reflect the gift of God's eternal love in its own relationships. Something is created in the world of everyday relationships that shares the character of what happens when God through Jesus Christ establishes the lasting sign of his love that is the community of the Church."

"All this helps explain why marriage isn't a private arrangement. In addition to the interest that is taken by the state in maintaining stable relationships, there is, even in the most carefully secular ceremony in front of a registrar, some element that recognises the seriousness of giving a lifetime's effort to support and build up one other human being; everyone seems to acknowledge that a wedding is a moment when we human beings have to become more than we normally are and to speak as if we were capable of more than we might ordinarily think we can do."

"Even in the full and painful knowledge that, for all sorts of reasons, our commitments to lifelong fidelity may be undermined or shattered, we still believe that this is the mark we have to set ourselves."

"And Christian marriage goes that one step further and says that for those who can grasp it, this relationship between a man and a woman is now a living sign of God's relation to the world, and of what God thinks about human capacity and dignity. It is a sign telling us that God is to be trusted to be faithful - and that God trusts us to echo that faithfulness."

"These things are true of every marriage in the world. But they have an extra dimension in the context of the marriage whose 60 years we celebrate today."

"Every marriage is a public event, but some couples have to live more than others in the full light of publicity."

"We are probably more aware than ever these days of the pressures this brings. But it also means that we can give special thanks for the very public character of the witness and the sign offered to us by this marriage, and what it has meant to nation and Commonwealth over the decades."

"And part of what it has meant has had to do precisely with the sense of unqualified commitment that has been so characteristic of every aspect of this reign: the faithful and creative personal partnership at the centre of everything else has been a sign of creative faithfulness to a task, a vocation, the creative faithfulness that secures the trust, love and prayerful support of millions."

"Today we celebrate not only a marriage but the relationship between monarch and people of which also that marriage is a symbol: a relationship in which we see what levels of commitment are possible for someone upheld by a clear sense of God's calling and enabling, and the corresponding vision of the worthwhileness of this national and international family that is the Commonwealth, which has been the recipient of such unswerving service."

"So before we complain too loudly about a world of disposable relationships and short-term policies, a world of fracturing and insecure international bonds and the decline of trust, we should remember today that we have cause for thanksgiving - thanksgiving that God has made human beings capable, against all the odds, of reflecting his own completely costly and self-giving commitment to his world; that the gift of marriage makes this capacity visible in our world; and that, in the lives of the couple with whom today we join in celebration, that bracing, renewing and hopeful vision of faithful generosity has been for 60 years set so clearly before our eyes."

"May it be so for many more years."

Highlights from the 60th wedding anniversary Service of Celebration on BBC News can be viewed here.

For more information on Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh 60th wedding anniversary, visit the official website.

White House Welcome for Queen Elizabeth II

On the South Lawn of the White House this morning, President George W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II greeted each other with official salutations. Afterwards, a luncheon was held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Below is the full text of the morning salutations between Queen Elizabeth II and President George W. Bush.

PRESIDENT BUSH: "Good morning. Laura and I are honored to welcome back to the White House Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh."

"The United Kingdom has written many of the greatest chapters in the history of human freedom. Nearly 800 years ago, the Magna Carta placed the authority of the government under the rule of law. Eighty years later, the first representative assembly of the English people met to debate public policies. Over the centuries, parliaments in Britain established principles that guide all modern democracies. And thinkers from Britain, like Locke and Smith and Burke showed the world that freedom was the natural right of every man, woman and child on Earth."

"As liberty expanded in the British Isles, British explorers helped spread liberty to many lands, including our own. In May of 1607, a group of pioneers arrived on the shores of the James River, and founded the first permanent English settlement in North America. The settlers at Jamestown planted the seeds of freedom and democracy on American soil. And from those seeds sprung a nation that will always be proud to trace its roots back to our friends across the Atlantic."

"Our two nations hold fundamental values in common. We honor our traditions and our shared history. We recognize that the strongest societies respect the rights and dignity of the individual. We understand and accept the burdens of global leadership. And we have built our special relationship on the surest foundations -- our deep and abiding love of liberty."

"Today our two nations are defending liberty against tyranny and terror. We're resisting those who murder the innocent to advance a hateful ideology, whether they kill in New York or London, or Kabul or Baghdad."

"American and British forces are staying on the offense against the extremists and terrorists. We're supporting young democracies. Our work has been hard. The fruits of our work have been difficult for many to see. Yet our work remains the surest path to peace, and it reflects the values cherished by Americans and by Britons, and by the vast majority of people across the broader Middle East."

"Your Majesty, I appreciate your leadership during these times of danger and decision. You've spoken out against extremism and terror. You've encouraged religious tolerance and reconciliation. You've honored those returning from battle, and comforted the families of the fallen."

"The American people are proud to welcome Your Majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. After all, you've dined with ten U.S. Presidents. You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976. She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

"You have helped commemorate both the 350th and 400th anniversaries of the Jamestown settlement."

"Your Majesty, the United States receives with honor the sovereign of the United Kingdom. We welcome back to the White House a good person, a strong leader for a great ally."

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: "Mr. President, thank you for your warm words. This is my fifth visit to the United States. And I believe it is important to remind ourselves of the purpose of these occasions, which gives meaning to the ceremonial symbolism and the circumstance."

"A state visit provides us with a brief opportunity to step back from our current preoccupations to reflect on the very essence of our relationship. It gives us the chance to look back at how the stories of our two countries have been inextricably woven together. It is the moment to take stock of our present friendship, rightly taking pleasure from its strengths, while never taking these for granted. And it is the time to look forward, jointly renewing our commitment to a more prosperous, safer and freer world."

"Last week, I had the pleasure of sharing with you an extraordinary anniversary in our common history. It was a privilege to join the commemoration of the Jamestown landing by that small group of British citizens all those years ago. My two days in Virginia gave me a new insight into those events, which helped to shape this country's development and to lay the foundations of this great nation based on shared principles of equality, democracy and the rule of law."

"And now in Washington, we have a further opportunity to acknowledge the present strengths of our relationship. I shall enjoy not only renewing old acquaintances and making new ones, but also recognizing the breadth and depth of the friendship we have shared for so long. We can celebrate the close and enduring associations which thrive between the United States and the United Kingdom at every level, be it government or corporate, institutional or personal."

"This visit also gives us a window on the future, both the future of the United States and the future cooperation between our countries. I particularly look forward in the next two days to seeing at firsthand something of how the cutting edge of science and technology can take us to the next phases of discovery and exploration in human endeavor."

"Mr. President, thank you for inviting Prince Philip and me to visit your country, to share in the commemoration of the Jamestown anniversary, and to have this opportunity to underline the extent of our friendship -- past, present and future. It is indeed a pleasure for us to be here in Washington again, and to be welcomed back to the White House."

Below is the luncheon menu in honour of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Wild Asparagus Velouté
Chive Oil
Heirloom Tomato Fondue

Seared Baby Sea Bass
Ramp-Vermouth Sauce
Lemony Risotto

Ruby Red Grapefruit Fillets,
Jicama and Florida Avocados
Citrus Dressing

“Spring Garden”
Raspberry Meringue
Dark Chocolate Sorbet
Mint Granita

DuMOL Chardonnay “Isobel” 2004

Vice-President Dick Cheney's Welcoming Remarks to Queen Elizabeth II at the Jamestown Settlement

Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh toured the historic Jamestown Settlement in Virginia which celebrated its 400th anniversary this year. United States Vice-President Dick Cheney welcomed the queen to the Jamestown Settlement with the following remarks.

"Thank you very much, Senator Norment. I appreciate the introduction and the kind welcome this morning."

"This is indeed an historic day for Virginia and for the United States. And it's certainly a privilege for Lynne and me to join all of you in greeting Her Majesty the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Your Majesty, 50 years ago, on your first visit to America as a sovereign, you were given a very warm welcome. A half-century has done nothing to diminish the respect and affection which this country holds you. And we receive you again today in that same spirit. You honor us by returning for this anniversary of Jamestown Settlement, and we deeply appreciate your presence this morning."

"Four centuries ago, more than a hundred colonists aboard three small ships were just days from reaching this shore. They'd been at sea nearly five months, and great hardships awaited them on the banks of the James River. Yet from the time of their arrival here, the world would never again be as it was. Inside a little three-sided fort in this corner of Virginia, large events were set in motion, and great and noble traditions were introduced in America. So we pay homage to the first English settlement on the North American shore, and we mark the 14th of May, 1607 as a providential moment in the life of this nation."

"Jamestown began as a commercial venture, yet within a generation, Virginia was a colony of the Crown. In time, those colonies would be 13 in number, and together they would become the United States of America. The beliefs and ways of life observed here were vital in shaping the character of the nation we know today. And these traditions -- liberty and law; private property; the spirit of enterprise; and commerce among peoples -- all came from the island nation that the colonists of Jamestown had called home."

"Here at this first settlement, named in honor of the English King, we are joined today by the sovereign who now occupies that throne. She and Prince Philip are held in the highest regard throughout this nation, and their visit today only affirms the ties of trust and warm friendship between our two countries. Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness: All of us feel very privileged, and we'll certainly remember this day that we shared your company. So, on behalf of President Bush and the people of this land, I'm proud to say thank you for joining us, and welcome to the United States of America."

Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates 400th Jubilee of the English Reformed Church

The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II visited the Netherlands this week to celebrate the 400th jubilee of the English Reformed Church at the Begijnhof in Amsterdam. The British monarch was greeted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at Rotterdam Airport. Beside participating in the 400th jubilee celebration, Elizabeth toured the Amsterdam Historical Museum and the International Court of Justice in The Haag.
Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the International Court of Justice can be read here.For more information on the Begijnhof in Amsterdam, visit the official website.

Photos: ANP, REUTERS