AFP/London
Queen Elizabeth II attended a Commonwealth lunch in London yesterday following her grand four-day diamond jubilee celebration, without her husband, whose condition was improving in hospital.
Queen Elizabeth poses with Commonwealth Nations heads of government and representatives of the Commonwealth nations, following a lunch at Marlborough House in central London yesterday
The head of the Commonwealth attended the lunch with heads of state and government as well as representatives from across the 54-country association.
The luncheon at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth’s headquarters, was hosted by the organisation’s secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma, who greeted the Queen on her arrival.
The 86-year-old monarch wore a blue coat with a blue and grey dress and a matching hat for the occasion.
More than 70 guests attended, including Prime Ministers David Cameron, Stephen Harper of Canada and New Zealand’s John Key.
The presidents of Malawi, the Maldives, Namibia and Zambia, Australia’s governor-general and the prime ministers of Malta and St Kitts and Nevis were also present.
More than a hundred Tamil and human rights demonstrators gathered outside to protest against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s presence.
Their chants echoed around the forecourt as guests arrived and his vehicle was jeered as it swept in.
Queen Elizabeth spent a brief moment with Rajapakse as she met guests at a reception before the lunch.
The attendees were seated around 11 tables named after flowers, with Queen Elizabeth’s called Golden Wattle.
Sharma told guests it was a “very special day in the history of the Commonwealth”.
The dignitaries were served a Brie and avocado terrine followed by wild sea bass, then an apple crumble souffle, apple pie ice cream and caramelised apple. The meal was washed down with South African wines.
Afterwards, the guests mingled outside before standing for group photographs. The Queen was presented with a circular commemorative bronze plaque to mark her diamond jubilee.