The first and only visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Lithuania left an indelible memory for the country’s the then president.
October 16, 2006. A plane carrying distinguished guests lands in Vilnius. It was the first time that British monarchs – Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip – visited Lithuania. “Her visit showed that Lithuania’s return to international politics and international life is natural and necessary,” Valdas Adamkus, the country’s president at the time, told LRT.lt.
On Thursday, the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II spread around the world. Messages of condolence came from all corners of the world, including Lithuania. Many Lithuanians also remembered the only visit of a British monarch to Lithuania so far.
“Let light and truth guide our steps,” the queen quoted the Lithuanian national anthem during her visit to Lithuania.
Almost 16 years ago, standing in the historic March 11 Hall of the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, Elizabeth II said she hoped her visit would show the importance of the relationship between Britain and Lithuania.
“We admire how quickly you have gone from being recipients of international aid to generous givers. How you have gone from being an importer of security to a major contributor to the security of others,” the monarch told Lithuanians at the time.
In her speech at the Seimas, Elizabeth II said that her visit was to celebrate the achievements of all three Baltic nations. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia had emerged from the shadow of the Soviet Union to take their rightful places in the international community, the Queen said at the time.
President Valdas Adamkus, who received the queen at the time, told LRT.lt that this was not his first meeting with Elizabeth II.
“I had the honour of meeting her four times. Three times I met her in person, both in Scotland and in London. One particularly interesting meeting was at Buckingham Palace, her private residence on the second floor.
“I had the opportunity to talk with her for almost an hour. I found her to be a warm person, interested in all matters not only of the world but also of Lithuania, and we also discussed ecological issues. Her sincerity and humanity really came through, not only as the ruler of a great empire,” the former president told LRT.lt.
A crucial visit
Adamkus recalled that during one of their conversations, he invited Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to visit Lithuania. At the time, the president said, the queen did not commit to the visit, but made it clear that she was happy to accept the invitation.
According to Adamkus, her visit was exceptionally important for Lithuania and its people.
“It should be memorable for Lithuania as the first ever official visit of the Queen of England,” he said.
“I appreciate it immensely and I think it was a nice visit on her part and a much needed moral boost for Lithuania,” according to Adamkus.
Relations between Lithuania and the UK have strengthened since the country regained independence and allowed Lithuania to establish itself in the international community, Adamkus said.
“Her visit showed that Lithuania’s return to international politics and international life is natural and necessary. It was one of the strongest expressions of this level of support and sympathy for Lithuania in this century,” the former head of state believes.
During his term, Adamkus also met Prince Charles, who has now succeeded the queen as King Charles III. He visited Vilnius in 2001.
“He was really very warm, very personal, interested even in Lithuania’s history, in the years of occupation. We had a chance to talk about the past, I told him about it, and expressed my gratitude for the care and attention he had shown to Lithuania,” said Adamkus.
Asked how he thought Queen Elizabeth II would be remembered in history, Adamkus said he had no doubt that her legacy would centre around her contribution to maintaining Britain’s authority in the world.
“She was a very warm person, as I have seen in all my four meetings with her. She will be remembered with great respect by humanity, and the relationship that we built with Elizabeth II will be continued by her son,” former president Adamkus told LRT.lt.
A speech important for the whole nation
Queen Elizabeth II, who arrived at the Seimas, was greeted by Viktoras Muntianas, the then parliament speaker. He praised the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, for their pleasant and warm communication. The former speaker also said that the queen’s speech, in which she praised Lithuania and the other Baltic countries, was of great importance to the whole nation.
“It was a great pleasure to talk to her. I did not expect her to be so easy to communicate with. Prince Philip was also very kind.
“It was a very important speech for the Lithuanian people. [...] I think it had an impact [on good relations between the two countries],” Muntianas told LRT.lt.
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