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Queen of Britain visits Canada

30 June 2010 04:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Queen Elizabeth II of Britain arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Monday afternoon to start a nine-day visit to Canada, APA reports quoting news.xinhuanet.com website.

"I’m delighted to be back amongst you all," the queen said to hundreds of spectators who stood in rain below Halifax’s Citadel Hill awaiting her arrival.

"My pride in this country remains undimmed. Thanks very much for your welcome. It is good to be home," she said.

The queen, wearing a yellow outfit and beige raincoat, was officially welcomed to Halifax by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife.

In his welcoming address, Harper noted it was the queen’s 22nd visit to Canada.

"Each of your tours is etched in the minds of Canadians," he said, adding that he remembered her motorcade passing by his childhood home in Ontario.

Harper added there was no better gift than having the queen in Canada on July 1, when the country turns 143 years old.

The 84-year-old Queen is visiting with her husband. The royal couple will celebrate the Canadian navy’s 100th anniversary in Halifax before leaving for Ottawa on Wednesday to join the celebration of Canada Day.

They will also visit Winnipeg, Waterloo and Toronto.