AND SO DOES THE QUEEN MAKE HER WAY TO TURKEY
(ANKARA – Turkish Daily News (May 14, 2008)

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh began a four-day state visit to Turkey yesterday – their first to the country in almost 40 years.

 

State Minister Mehmet Aydın welcomed the royal couple at the airport, but no welcoming ceremony was held. The Queen and Prince Philip visited the mausoleum of Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and laid a wreath at his tomb. The Queen especially wanted to visit Ataturk's mausoleum, according to Turkish sources.

 

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Blue Mosque

Later in the day, the royal couple attended a state banquet hosted by President Abdullah Gul and his headscarf-wearing spouse, Hayrunnisa, at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Gul and the Queen addressed the guests during the banquet at Cankaya, which was broadcast live on state television. In his speech, Gul touched upon the strong friendship between Turkey and Britain.

 The royal visit highlights the importance of Britain's relationship with Turkey. Britain is a strong supporter of Turkey's attempts to join the EU. The country became an official candidate in 1999 and Hagia Sophiaentered

formal accession negotiations in 2005.

 

Another interesting scene from yesterday's state event was the performance of Doguş Children's Orchestra, one of the four leading groups in the world comprised of 91 talented youth selected from every province of Turkey. The young group performed on the night at the special request of the Queen.

The Queen and Prince Philip will travel to the northwestern city of Bursa today. In Bursa, the Queen will attend a fashion show titled “Reflections of the Past in the Present” with the contributions of Ankara Olgunlasma Institute, and she will participate in the Women Entrepreneurship Congress.

 

The Queen will watch a “Karagoz-Hacivat” puppet theater show, visit the Green Mosque and listen to Koran recitals, while her husband, who is interested in technology, will tour the TOFAŞ automotive factory. Turkey's First Lady Hayrunnisa will accompany the Queen on her Bursa visit.