User:Peter Ormond/State visit by Elizabeth II to China

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, made a state visit to the People's Republic of China from 12 to 18 October 1986 at the invitation of Chinese President Li Xiannian. This was the first time that any British monarch visited the country.

Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Kunming, Guangzhou



Temple of Heaven in Beijing, Great Wall, Forbidden City in Beijing, Yunnan University of Nationalities, Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Bejing, the Huating Temple in Western Mountains near Kunming, unprecedented access to the Terracotta Warriors at the Qin Shi Huang Museum in the Shaanxi Province, the Children's Palace in Canton.

Philip eye

Preparations
Special tiles were ordered from the Netherlands to line the sides of Chinese ports in order to protect HMY Britannia's paintwork.

China's largest clock, a copy of Big Ben, began chiming the same notes as its London counterpart for the first time in 20 years. The 59-year-old clock in downtown Shanghai was restored to its original condition for the Queen's visit. "I hope it will make Queen Elizabeth feel at home when she visits Shanghai later this month", said Chen Maoxun, a technician who took part in the repair work on the old clock.

12 October
The Queen and her husband arrived in Beijing on 12 October. Prince Philip arrived half an hour earlier, and stood with Chinese officials as the Queen stepped from her chartered British Airways Tristar onto the red carpet. The Queen, wearing a wide-brimmed white hat and a lemon-yellow dress, was presented with two bouquets of red and white flowers, each clutched by a young Chinese girl and boy.

On the concrete tarmac, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wu Xueqian, led a delegation of officials in greeting the Queen. Wu said, "I extend a warm welcome to Your Majesty on behalf of President Li Xiannian". "I'm very glad to come to China", the Queen replied.

After the brief welcoming ceremony at the airport, the Queen rode in a black Mercedes-Benz down the airport road lined with flowers and flapping British and Chinese flags. At the state guesthouse, hundreds of children wearing elaborate costumes sang and waved colored pennants as her limousine drove into the compound.

13 October
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Tianenmen Square, during which she inspected a Guard of Honour and a salute of 21 guns was fired. In the Hubei Room of the Great Hall, the Queen held talks with President Li Xiannian.

Later, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Palace Museum in Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven complex. They later attended a reception for the British Commonwealth community at the British Ambassador's Residence, when she planted a magnolia tree in commemoration of her visit. The Duke of Edinburgh later visited the Beijing Heavy Duty Truck Plant, where he was received by He Guang Yuan, Vice-Minister of Machinery Building Industry.

In the evening, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a State Banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Queen wore an Ian Thomas gown decorated with tree peony blossom, the national flower of China. Both the Queen and President Li delivered speeches at the beginning of the banquet. In her speech, the Queen said: "Some 390 years ago my forebear, Queen Elizabeth I, wrote to the Wan Li Emperor expressing the hope that trade might be developed between England and China. The messenger met with misfortune and that letter never arrived. Fortunately, postal services have improved… Your message inviting us here arrived safely, and it has given me great pleasure to accept it". President Li told the Queen that her visit gives "powerful impetus to the deepening of relations between the two countries".

The Queen later presented the Royal Society Scholarships scroll to President Li.

After the State Banquet, the royal couple were treated to a cultural performance in the theatre of the Great Hall of the People.

15 October
The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a banquet for President Li Xiannian and his wife Lin Jiamei on board the royal yacht Britannia.

18 October
Canton

Before their departure, the Queen and Duke gave a reception attended by Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and Ye Xuanping, Governor of Guangdong Province. Chonese officials had earlier feared the royal yacht would be unable to sail because of Typhoon Ellen.

The Queen and her husband left Canton's port of Huangpu in darkness aboard the royal yacht Britannia for Hong Kong.

Aftermath
The Chinese Government deemed the visit a success. When asked about the Duke's slitty-eyed comment, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said, "The Queen and Prince have stated on many occasions that they have had a very good time in China. As for the remarks you mentioned, I was not present on the occasion, so I did not hear them".