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Queen hosts Africa Palace reception
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THE QUEEN, on Tuesday the 13th of November, hosted a glittering reception for some of Commonwealth Africa's leading business people, sportsmen and diplomats living in the UK. England rugby star Paul Sackey and the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu were among the guests invited to Buckingham Palace ahead of a high-level conference of Commonwealth leaders in Uganda.
The Queen, who will give the opening address at the summit in the capital Kampala, was presented with a Wedgewood vase by Dr Sentamu made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery as the Duke of Edinburgh looked on.
The senior cleric said the Queen was the perfect person to receive the ornament, one of only six made, as she embodied some of the country's best qualities - law, religion and morality.
Dr Sentamu, who was born in Uganda, said: "When the Queen came to the throne I was three and I remember on a little radio I listened to the coronation.
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Over the years she has managed to keep the Commonwealth together and she has two important qualities: she genuinely believes in duty above her own personal enjoyment and genuinely believes in the Commonwealth. When she speaks she reveals a love of people and of diversity, and her faith in God."
During the reception, the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda entertained the royal couple, a group of singers aged 7 to 13, many of whom have lost one or both parents to HIV/Aids.
The Queen, who will visit an Aids centre during her three-day state visit to Uganda, smiled warmly, as did the Duke, as the animated youngsters performed the song I'm Not Forgotten for the guests.
The royal couple were also introduced to veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald who is making a documentary about the Duke. The Queen later chatted to rugby star Sackey, a London-born sportsman who plays for London Wasps and whose parents come from Ghana. The winger, who scored four tries during England's World Cup campaign which saw them beaten by South Africa in the final, said: "It was an honour and a privilege to meet the Queen. Since I've been back I've been trying to adjust to club rugby and earn the respect of my team-mates and get back to a normal life."
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