President Pratibha Patil on Sunday returned from seven-day State Visit to United Kingdom and Cyprus in which she received rare memorabilia of Mahatma Gandhi, participated in the launch of Queen’ Baton Relay for Commonwealth Games and held bilateral talks with the leaders of both countries.
In the first-leg, the President visited London for four days where rare Gandhi memorabilia were handed over to Patil by NRI entrepreneurs Sir Gulam K Noon and Nathu Puri, who had procured them from an auction in July which she described was the “high-point” of her visit.
She was accorded a red-carpet welcome by the Queen Elizabeth at the Windsor Castle where she saw Indian gifts to the Royal family, attended the state banquet and met leader of opposition David Cameroon and Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg.
The President also met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his office-cum-residence at 10 Downing Street.
The President also received the Queen’s Baton for Commonwealth Games, starting the countdown for the next year’s games here, at a colourful function in front of Buckingham Palace.
Keywords: President, Pratibha Patil, State visit to U.K., Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth, memorabilia of Mahatma Gandhi
