Great Britain Exclusive

Conducting a series of important official programs during his visit to the UK, President Gül, meeting with Prince Charles of Wales, PM David Cameron as well as other senior officials and leading CEOs of the country, also explored both cultural and historic places along with the First Lady. Enjoying a classical concert at the Royal Albert Hall, the President, on the last day of his visit, proceeded to Portsmouth, where he laid a wreath at the graveyards of 26 Turkish marines and explored the Portsmouth Naval Base as well as the Stansted Park.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

The First Couple, afterwards, watched a classical music concert performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra entitled “Classical Spectecular” at the Royal Albert Hall, which was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871.

LUNCHEON FOR GÜL

President Gül and the First Lady, after the official welcoming ceremony, attended a luncheon that Queen Elizabeth II hosted in their honor at the Blue Drawing Hall in Buckingham Palace. The Queen and Prince Philip later accompanied President Gül and the First Lady to the Belgian Suite where they stayed.

VISIT TO WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

The Royal family and the First Couple, after the exchange of presents and exploring the Royal Painting Collection, visited Westminster Cathedral.

LONDON EYE TAKES ON COLOR OF THE TURKISH FLAG

The First Couple watched the London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, one of the capital’s symbols situated by the River Thames and decorated with white and red, thus taking on the colors of the flag of a foreign head of state for the first time.

OFFICIAL DINNER FOR THE FIRST COUPLE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II hosted an official dinner in honor of President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül at Buckingham Palace. The official dinner was given in the Music Hall of Buckingham Palace where the then Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz paid the first state visit to the United Kingdom in 1867.

TURKEY FOR 2020 OLYMPICS

On President Gül’s agenda was Turkey’s candidacy for the 2020 Olympics during his official visit to the UK. The President, exploring the London Olympic Park in London that is to host the 2012 Olympic Games along with the accompanying MPs and the Deputy Chairman of the Olympic Committee of Turkey, Hasan Arat, expressed Turkey’s great wish to host the games in 2020.

Welcomed upon his arrival at the Olympic Park by William Hague, British Foreign Minister, President Gül invited him to the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. The British member of the International Olympiad Committee, Sir Craig Reedie, later briefed the accompanying delegation of the President, including the First Lady, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu; Turkish MPs and the Deputy Chairman of the Olympic Committee of Turkey, Hasan Arat.

CEO FORUM

The President, afterwards, attended the CEO Forum held at the Foreign Ministry.

GÜL MEETS WITH PRINCE CHARLES OF WALES AT CLARENCE HOUSE

Welcoming the First Couple in front of Clarence House, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla introduced them to the students of the Prince‘s School of Traditional Arts, where they create works related to the three Abrahamic religions. The Royal Couple and the First Couple later enjoyed the works of the Turkish traditional arts made by these students.

President Gül and the First Lady were also briefed about the activities of the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment. Prince Charles of Wales later introduced the Chairman of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, Dr. Farhan Ahmad Nizami and the participants of the Young Muslim Leadership Program to the First Couple. The Royal Couple and the First Couple later had a tete-a-tete while enjoying tea.

DINNER FOR THE FIRST COUPLE AT GUILDHALL

President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül attended an official dinner given in their honor by Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman David Wootton.

After the arrival of the First Couple at the ceremonial ground, the Turkish national anthem was played and the ceremony officer invited the President to review the escort of honor in Turkish, saying: “The escort of honor is ready for your inspection, sir!” President Gül later reviewed the escort of honor and signed the guest book.

LAST DAY OF THE VISIT

President Abdullah Gül,on the last day of his official visit, left Buckingham Palace, where the Royal family hosted him.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Duke Philip of Edinburgh saw off President Abdullah Gül and First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül from the main entrance of the palace.

GÜL MEETS WITH CAMERON

President Gül, meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron of England, evinced that both countries share a vision for the future in peace with common values and proclaimed that Turkey and Great Britain have allied for a better world. As for Prime Minister Cameron, he declared Turkey to be a good friend of the United Kingdom, its vital trade partner and a strong ally in NATO.

The President, promulgating that Turkey and the United Kingdom are experiencing a heyday in their bilateral relations, referred to the many areas in which both countries cooperate, adding that both countries share a vision for the future in peace with common values and proclaimed that Turkey and Great Britain have allied for a better world.

GÜL RECEIVES BRITISH DEPUTY PM

President Gül, afterwards, received the British Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, at Buckingham Palace.

GÜL RECEIVES LABOR PARTY LEADER

President Gül also received the Labor Party Leader, Ed Miliband at Buckingham Palace.