You might find the stairs tricky, my dear: Queen's astonishment as Turkish President's wife turns up at the Palace in a pair of killer heels

By LAUREN PAXMAN and REBECCA ENGLISH



One is not amused? The Queen eyes up the Turkish President's wife's ankle boots with six inch heels



One always hopes one’s guests will be comfortable. But sometimes they don’t do themselves any favours.

As the Queen greeted the first lady of Turkey yesterday, she couldn’t help an admonishing glance at her guest’s six-inch platform shoes.

Hayrunnisa Gul, wife of Turkey’s president, tottered gingerly on to the red carpet as she and her husband arrived for lunch at Buckingham Palace. The Queen, in her usual sensible court shoes, appeared somewhat taken aback by her glamorous guest’s footwear.



Welcome: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh stand alongside Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his wife, Hayrunnisa, as they arrive at Buckingham Palace for the Turkish state visit



Maybe she was worried about Mrs Gul tripping up on the carpet. Or fretting how she would manage all the stairs in the palace, which has few lifts. No matter. Mrs Gul is something of a stilleto expert. In September she braved the cobbles at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in five-inch heels and October saw her treading carefully in six-inch platforms at the presidential palace in Ankara.

Despite a rather wobbly beginning, she put her best foot forward and enjoyed the best of royal hospitality at the palace. After lunch the Queen treated the Guls to an exhibition of Turkish themed antiquities.



Royal banquet: The Queen, Prunce Philip, President of Turkey Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa at a formal dinner last night



The President of Turkey and his wife were welcomed to Britain amid great pomp and pageantry.

Abdullah Gul's three-day state visit began with a ceremonial greeting under grey, overcast skies on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.



The Queen and Abdullah Gul touch glasses at the state banquet



The two heads of state shook hands warmly in a physical and symbolic gesture of friendship between Turkey and Britain. But Mrs Gul's footwear appeared to initially go unnoticed.

The Queen wore a smarksilver and white wool dress and matching coat by Angela Kelly. Her black patent shoes and bag were much plainer than the accessories Mrs Gul chose.

As well as her impressive boots, the President's wife was wearing her trademark headscarf - an item of clothing which angers secularists in Turkey who see it as an overt Islamic symbol.



VIPs: The Royals met Mr and Mrs Gul at Horse Guard's Parade. David Cameron, William Hague and Theresa May were also there



The royal meeting heralded the start of a busy round of public engagements and political talks over the coming days for the president.

Britain hopes his visit will forge closer links with Turkey - a growing economic powerhouse and an increasingly important trade partner.

The 61-year-old has already highlighted the issues which will undoubtedly play a part in discussions with Prime Minister David Cameron later today.

European Union membership is a key goal of his country, which geographically straddles the East and West - and is strongly supported by the UK Government.

Interviewed ahead of the visit, Mr Gul told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Some people who think in a narrow scope and who do lack a strategic perspective consider Turkey's membership a burden.



source: dailymail