Queen Elizabeth II wraps up Singapore visit at racecourse

Mar 18, 2006, 7:55 GMT

Singapore - Crowds swamped the Singapore Racecourse on Saturday for a glimpse of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II presenting prizes for a race named in her honour.

It was the final event of her whirlwind visit to the city-state, the queen's third since the former colony's independence.

The queen, who turns 80 next month, was scheduled to present the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, a race named in her honour during her first visit in 1972.

She was also giving away prizes to the winning owner, trainer and jockey, with the amount hiked to 350,000 Singapore dollars (216,000 US) from 250,000 Singapore dollars (154,000 US).

Accompanying the queen was her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Singapore's President S.R. Nathan.

'We are deeply honoured,' said Koh Yong Guan, chairman of the Singapore Turf Club, expressing his 'appreciation to her majesty and his royal highness for gracing the occasion.'

At a banquet held by Nathan in the queen's honour on Saturday night, the queen said she has watched the city-state's development with admiration.

'Singapore has developed an ability to develop and grow, while preserving the best of its traditions,' she said.

'From inventive architecture and dynamic culture to cutting edge technology, you have maintained solid foundations while always building for the future,' the queen noted.

Both Singapore and Britain have multiracial and multicultural societies, she observed.

'I believe the real strength behind our relationship lies with our people,' she said, adding that links between people are 'even more important in our shrinking world.'

The queen and Prince Philip arrived Thursday after five days in Australia.

Her engagements while in the city-state included inspection of a military guard of honour, meetings with Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and visits to the National Library, a memorial commemorating World War I and II and a government housing development.

Singapore became a republic in 1965.