Mexican President Calderón Makes State Visit to Britain

President Calderón of Mexico, and his wife, Margarita Zavala, have arrived to Buckingham Palace today for a state visit ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit in London. The Queen and Prince Philip greeted their visitors in style with a pomp-filled parade at Horseguards near the Mall.

President Calderón’s state visit is the first by a Mexican head of state to Britain in almost 25 years; President Miguel de la Madrid’s visit in 1985 was the most recent.

During the official visit, President Calderón will also meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and will make an address to both Houses of Parliament. A state banquet at Buckingham Palace will be held in his honor this evening.

As per tradition, the heads of state exchanged gifts to mark the visit. The Queen and The Duke gave President Calderón a first edition of George Orwell’s 1984, as Orwell is one of his favorite authors. The royal couple gave Senora Zavala a small engraved silver box. From the President and his wife, The Queen received a Maque tray from the President’s home state of Michoacan, while Prince Philip received a wooden chest.

The President’s state visit will last for four days. For more details, see this thread.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Mexico, Parliament, President Calderón of Mexico, Prime Minister Brown of the United Kingdom, State Visit, The Duke of Edinburgh.

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