The Queen's tryst with India

"The warmth and hospitality of Indians is an inspiration for all of us." Hear Queen Elizabeth II’s toast to India back in 2009.

Transcript

00:00The warmth and hospitality of the Indian people and the richness and diversity of India itself

00:07have been an inspiration to all of us.

00:09Britain and India have a long shared history, which today is a source of great strength

00:16in building a new partnership fit for this new century.

00:31Madam President and Dr Shekharput, I am delighted to welcome you both to Windsor Castle this

00:38evening at the beginning of your state visit to the United Kingdom.

00:42Prince Philip and I have fond memories of our own visits to India, and my family have

00:48been frequent guests of yours in recent years.

00:53Prince Andrew visits India regularly as an ambassador for British business, and Prince

00:58Edward has just been to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games Federation Assembly.

01:03The warmth and hospitality of the Indian people and the richness and diversity of India itself

01:10have been an inspiration to all of us.

01:13We hope to repay some of the kindness shown to us in India during your visit this week.

01:19Britain and India have a long shared history, which today is a source of great strength

01:25in building a new partnership fit for this new century.

01:30Nearly two million of our own citizens are tied by descent and enduring family links

01:35to India.

01:38They represent one of the United Kingdom's most dynamic and successful communities, and

01:44I am delighted to welcome many of the leaders of that community here this evening.

01:51Many of your own fellow citizens also live and work in the United Kingdom.

01:56They have enriched our society and continue to refresh and strengthen the bonds between

02:01our two countries.

02:03Five years ago, our two governments launched a new strategic partnership, which was founded

02:09on the sure knowledge that India's emergence on the world stage would be one of the main

02:15forces shaping the 21st century.

02:18One of the most important pillars of our new partnership is education.

02:25Madam President, I know of your own personal commitment to building a high-quality education

02:31system at all levels in India, and I want to assure you that we remain deeply committed

02:38to working with you towards this important goal.

02:41The United Kingdom is proud to have more than 30,000 Indian students in our universities

02:46every year.

02:48The first group of Manmohan Singh scholars has just arrived to begin their studies at

02:54Cambridge University.

02:57In the future, we hope that many more British students will go to study in Indian universities,

03:05making this a genuinely two-way exchange of learning.

03:08Madam President, relations between our two countries are built on strong and deep foundations

03:15and are set fair for the 21st century.