Tom PowellA LANDMARK visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Gibraltar and Southern Spain is currently under discussion.
The UK foreign affairs committee raised the possibility of a royal visit during a meeting in Gibraltar yesterday.
It would be the first time in 60 years that the British monarch has visited Gibraltar and it is hoped it could potentially improve relations with Spain.
“The last time she came it led to the turning of the screw the other way and the border was closed by Franco,” said one observer at the meeting. “It is hoped this might have the opposite effect.”
The meeting was attended by a number of British MPs including Sir Richard Ottoway, Anne Clwyd and Mike Gapes. The issue was raised however by Andrew Rosindell, the conservative MP for Romford, Essex, who said: “This is all a question of diaries.”
The item, third on the agenda, was discussed for approximately five minutes and was welcomed by Gibraltar first minister Fabian Picardo.
He said she would be very welcome in Gibraltar. “It is her place to come, this is her territory so we don’t think she even needs to ask permission to visit,” he said. “The people of Gibraltar would be very happy.”
The visit by the foreign affairs committee, which consists of five Labour MPs, five Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat, was described as a ‘one-off evidence session with the chief minister as part of a rolling inquiry into overseas territories’.
It followed an evidence session held with UK foreign affairs minister Mark Simmonds and sought to explore the issues were raised in that session, including the overall UK – Gibraltar relationship and the current situation with regard to Spain.
It has previously been thought that a visit by the Queen could cause more problems with Spain.
However, this diplomatic meeting could end up turning the screw the other way and being good for both countries.
One attendee at the meeting told the Olive Press: “It is fantastic, it gives us real hope of solving the border problem.”
Following the Queen’s last visit, Gibraltarians voted in favour of remaining a British territory and in response Spain completely closed the border and it remained shut for a decade.
Will one have to queue?
a decade ??? more like TWO you mean….
Betty visiting both Gibraltar AND Southern Spain? I can just imagine how that suggestion will go down in Madrid. Like ye olde lead brick…
god bless her!….betty indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!to the tower with you!
All we can do now is pray that this trip to Gibraltar will go ahead and that HM the Queen will bless us all by visiting other parts of Southern Spain.
Gibraltar is not a part of Southern Spain, therefore parts of Southern Spain cannot be described as ‘other parts’.
The Queen’s visit to Gibraltar happened in 1954, the border closed in 1969! Nothing to do with the Queen visiting her loyal subjects in Gibraltar. Franco used Gibraltar in the late 60’s much as the PP Government is doing now, to distract from serious unrest in Spain at the time like the Asturia miner’s unrest and student demonstrations against oppression. If they did decide it is time for a long overdue visit by the Queen to Gibraltar, I doubt very much whether it would have any effect on border queues positively or otherwise. In any case she would be very welcome by all Gibraltarians. God Bless Her.
Last time I looked at google earth, Gibraltar was a British colony in Southern Spain unless it has, since then, gone floating off somewhere!
The Queen is very welcome to visit any part of Southern Spain, maybe HM should fly into Málaga and stay at “La Línea” this time round.
Gibraltar is not in southern Spain, Ciudadanos. It is in southern Iberia…
Ciudadanos
Why would she stay in spain when she has the convent in gibraltar,
Her Majesty would be most welcomed in Gibraltar. After all, it’s not dissimilar to visiting any other town in the UK.
She should be encouraged to visit the Spanish hinterland so she can see for herself how this tiny British territory is the economic catalyst of the area that prevents thousands of Spaniards joining the dole queue and becoming destitute.
She will also witness the general state of disrepair and lack of development in the towns of the surrounding area compared to the thriving community that is Gibraltar.
Gibraltar is not any other town of UK; is a colony that belongs to the Queen, according with Utrech Treaty.
An important part of the Gibraltar incomes comes of the banking services an of the small taxis.
My dear Anselmo
1. If Gibraltar “belongs” to the queen then I suppose she is entitled to visit.
2. Taxis are not that small in Gibraltar. Some can even accommodate eight passengers.
My apologies. I meant taxes.
May she visit her forever loyal allie Catalunya amd we can work closely together against a common fascist enemy. Democracy and self determination for all…… I think its clear that 2013/14 are the years of seof rule and choices…. its our time, its our Catalunya.xx god bless thequeen and god bless Catalunya.
Sort spain She is our QUEEN and the Rock Of Gibraltar
Is her Rock and we are British Subjects and very proud
ones at that.
Gibraltar has been waiting for the visit of our QUEEN for years,THE QUEEN IS MORE THAN WELCOMED IN GIBRALTAR,HOPE SHE DOES IT SOON,SPAIN WILL ALWAYS GIVE AS PROBLEM ITS NOT THAT THEY ARE GONNA PUT MORE QUEUES OR INVADE OUR WATERS MORE,AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS..
SO LONG LIVE OUR QUEEN AND GIBRALTAR,HOPE YOUR VISIT IS SOON AS WE GIBRALTARIANS HAVE BEEN WAITNG FOR YOUR YEARS
What am amazing opportunity for Spain to “make friends” with the folks of Gibraltar. If the Spanish King could get involved & arrange to meet Her Majesty on the frontier, it would be seen as a most memorable occasion on both sides & hopefully stop the continuing distractions of the present Spanish government.
nicccccccccccccccce
Bill and Kate and Little George seem to be winning hearts and minds in New Zealand. Perhaps they would be better at conning the Spanish into loving the Gibbos.
Fui el otro dia de visita a Gibraltar y mi mujer , mi hija 14 años y yo hubieramos querido ser Gibraltareños ese mismo dia.Que Gibraltar no cambie.La paz que reina en la roca es incomparable.British for ever.