Sheraton Hotel, Ankara

13th May, 2008

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh left Heathrow Airport, London, this morning for the State Visit to Turkey.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were received at the Airport by the Earl Peel (Lord Chamberlain), Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir David Brewer), Mr. Terry Morgan (Airport Services Director, British Airports Authority) and Mr. William Walsh (Chief Executive, British Airways).

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon arrived at Esenboga International Airport and were received by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey (His Excellency Mr. Nicholas Baird) and Mr. Tanju Sumer (Director of Protocol).

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness drove to Anitkabir (the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk) in Ankara and, having been received by the Defence and Military Attaché, British Embassy (Colonel Clive Hodges), laid a wreath.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh afterwards drove to the Presidential Palace and were received by The President of the Republic of Turkey and Mrs. Gül.

Her Majesty subsequently inspected a Guard of Honour.

The Queen presented The President of the Republic of Turkey with the Insignia of an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were entertained this evening at a State Banquet given by The President of the Republic of Turkey and Mrs. Gül at the Presidential Palace.

The following are in attendance: the Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), Diana, Lady Farnham, the Rt. Hon. Christopher Geidt, Mr. Edward Young, Ms. Ailsa Anderson, Dr. Edward Perkins, Mrs. Hannah Howard, Surgeon Captain David Hett RN, Group Captain Timothy Hewlett, Squadron Leader Andrew Calame RAF and Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis.

Clarence House