Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Singapore

Mar 16, 2006, 15:28 GMT

Singapore - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Singapore late Thursday for a two-day visit at the invitation of the president of the former British colony.

The monarch was whisked to the stately Raffles Hotel, where the decor is resplendant is reminders of the former world power's legacy.

The queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived from Melbourne where she opened the Commonwealth Games. She last visited the city-state in 1989 and prior to that in 1972.

A formal welcome was scheduled for Friday at the Istana, the former Government House. The queen will meet with President S.R. Nathan and have lunch with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Particularly excited was Singaporean Thomas Pung, who met the queen during her first visit to the city-state in 1972. Then a 32-year-old bachelor, Pung and his mother greeted the queen in their one-room flat.

As part of the queen's interest in seeing how Singapore's public housing has developed over the years, she will be seeing Pung again, organizers said. He is now a 66-year-old retiree and has been married for more than 30 years.

The glass containing a drink Pung offered the queen is regarded as a priceless family heirloom, he said.

'This is something extra special,' Pung said of the impending meeting.

'I thought of buying a bouquet of flowers for her,' said Lim Poh Siock, Pung's wife. 'I am a bit shy since I cannot speak English.'

She said she will ask her daughter to help.

The queen will also stop at a war memorial and visit the national library.

During World War II Singapore was occupied by Japanese forces on February 15, 1942.

The hotel where the queen is staying was named after Sir Stamford Raffles. He established Singapore as a British trading post in 1819.

The queen, who will turn 80 next month, will present the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday. The race was named in her honour during the 1972 visit.

She will give away prizes to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.

Bilateral trade in goods reached more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2005.

Britain is Singapore's second-largest trading partner in the European Union after Germany.