The President of India Pratibha Patil hosted a banquet in honour of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen at the Rashtrapati Bavan last night.
Welcoming His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen to India, President Pratibha Patil said it was an honour and a privilege that His Majesty’s first visit abroad after his wedding is in India.
His Majesty said they were humbled by the manner in which they were received. “Deciding to visit India, a week after our marriage, it came naturally. After all, India has always been a home away from home.”
“Your Excellency, your invitation is an unprecedented gesture of warmth and solidarity towards me and towards Bhutan, a gesture that Jetsun and I accept with great humility and deep gratitude and one that we will over the course of our lives always try to live up to as your closest friend.”
Prior to the banquet, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen met with President Pratibha Patil. Yesterday afternoon, His Majesty granted an audience to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, Vice President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Adviser Shiv Shankhar Menon.
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