Queen in first Baltic States visit

12 April 2012

The Queen is preparing to travel to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for the first time.

She will fly to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius to begin a trio of state visits to the Baltics with the Duke of Edinburgh.

It will be her first ever visit to the former Soviet republics, which became part of the EU in 2004.

The long-reigning monarchhas taken more than 256 official overseas visits to 129 different countries and was the first monarch to circumnavigate the world.

She has visited all but one Commonwealth country - that being Cameroon, which joined in 1995.

Some nations get more than their fair share. She has been to Australia 15 times, Canada 23 times, Jamaica six times and New Zealand 10 times.

As first Lithuania, then Latvia and then Estonia prepare to welcome her, it will be a busy trip for the octogenarian who has already this year been to Australia and Singapore.

Her Eastern European extravaganza will take her on a whirlwind trip where she will encounter three countries in just four-and-a-half days.

The Queen will travel to three capitals, is expected to meet three presidents - two male, one female - undertake three walkabouts, dine at two state banquets and one state lunch, in addition to other engagements.

The official royal visits come after invitations from the countries' presidents.

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