President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič welcomes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to her first visit to Slovakia in its history

The first state visit of the British Queen, Elizabeth II, and her consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in the history of Slovakia started with a welcoming ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. In the courtyard, the Queen was welcomed with a traditional Slovak custom of a bread and salt offering.

The official welcoming ceremony was followed by a photography session of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, President Ivan Gašparovič and Mrs. Silvia Gašparovič, and attracted great media interest.

After Queen Elizabeth II signed the guestbook, both couples of the top representatives engaged themselves in a short discussion.
Queen Elizabeth II received from the Slovak President the country’s highest state decoration – the Order of the White Double Cross, 1st class.

President Ivan Gašparovič was in turn awarded by the British Queen the “Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire”.
The official programme of the visit continued with the appearance of the Queen to the mayor of Bratislava and its citizens at Primacionálne námestie square. The royal couple was greeted by citizens with immense interest and delight.

Queen Elizabeth II also visited locations of the real “Iron Curtain” at historic Devín Castle. The guests met with Sir Nicolas Winton, who saved 669 Jewish children in pre-war Czechoslovakia. They also met with Slovak veterans of World War II and children from British and Slovak schools. A ceremony of laying wreaths took place at the Gate of Freedom Memorial at the Devín Castle, and the British Queen unveiled the Iron Curtain Memorial.

The highlight of the first day was the state dinner hosted by the Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič and his wife Silvia Gašparovičová, in honour of both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.