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

Máxima and Willem-Alexander Build Economic and Cultural Ties with Slovenia

From October 2nd to October 4th, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands were building economic and cultural ties in Slovenia. When the royal couple's plane flew into Ljubljana's airport on Tuesday, Prince Willem was the pilot. The prince and princess met with Slovenia's President Janez Drnovsek and attended a dinner at the presidential castle in Brdo.


Below is Prince Willem's speech during the official dinner in Brdo.

"Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,"

"My wife and I are honoured by your invitation and are happy to be here in Slovenia at this important juncture in time. We have been in your beautiful country for only a day now and already we feel perfectly at home. Allow me to express from the outset - and I'm looking to you all in this room - my sincerest gratitude for what you have done in putting this great programme together. I know how much work is involved."

"Mr. President,"

"Slovenia has completed a 'tour de force' in the past decade. The accession to the European Union and NATO, your participation in international peace keeping missions, the introduction of the Euro, the upcoming accession to the Schengen Treaty, and soon another historic first: the first new EU Member state to chair the Council of the European Union. As new member states go, Slovenia comes out on top."

"To be sure, your success shows the way for those other countries and people in South eastern Europe who are yearning for a better future. You showed them that by making the right choices, by working hard every day, that a vision can be turned into a reality."

"Today, you help them by sending your experts, sharing your experiences and investing largely in their economies. You may be a small country, but your efforts are invaluable, for no other country can offer what you are offering them right now. And we commend you for that."

"As we speak, you are preparing for the EU presidency. This is no small feat, no matter what size the country is. I know that your people are highly qualified, extensively trained and anxious to finally start. But no presidency can do it alone. You will need the help of other partners, and the Netherlands will stand by you wherever it can."

"Mr. President,"

"Our bilateral relations are strong and growing, be it in the cultural or economical fields. Bilateral trade and investments are picking up. And where we cannot compete in numbers of workers, we can compete with our brains and creativity, marshalling our respective talents. Looking beyond your borders, into South eastern Europe looms large, a market with 20 million people, I am sure that our companies can cooperate successfully there as well. And when it comes to peace and security we stand together around the world today, and I trust that we will also stand together in the future."

"But I also want to look at our next generations. Through this visit, many Dutch youngsters will be introduced to Slovenia for the first time. Already there are many exchanges between students thanks to the Erasmus programme. I can only hope that many more will follow. Because these young people will help determine what Europe is going to look like in the decades ahead. We will have to teach them why Europe is here, why it is necessary and why they should be active citizens. I hope to play my modest part in this tomorrow at the Law Faculty."

"Mr. President,"

"This visit comes at the right time. We are honoured to be your guest and a witness to the success of a young state but a historic nation. You have played an important part in the recent history of Slovenia. First as Prime Minister and now as President and Head of State. Your positive approach to life and your personal battles command respect. And as Head of State you have, in a way, bolstered the conscience of a nation, and that, I believe, is a fitting role for any Head of State."

"Finally, Mr. President, Excellencies, dear guests, I would like to salute you and your fellow Slovenians, for your hospitality and friendship. I wish you good luck and am certain that you will make a shining mark on the map of Europe."




Some of the places on the royal couple's packed itinerary included the IEDC School of Management in Bled, Trimo Company in Trebnje, University of Ljubljana, BIA Separations, Ljubljana’s city hall and national library and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.




Prince Willem's speech entitled Europe: a gift of history, a promise for the future delivered at the University of Ljubljana on October 3rd can be read here.

Photos: ANP