By Honorary Reporter George Barker from U.K.

Photos = Royal British family's official Twitter account, Korean Embassy in London

Sept. 8 was a day of sadness for people around the world as Queen Elizabeth II of England died at age 96 in the afternoon at Balmoral Castle, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. During her seven decades on the throne, she was known for having good relations with Korea.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, in April 1999.

In April 1999, the queen celebrated her 73rd birthday in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, a city known as a center of traditional and folk culture and tradition in Korea. She also visited the traditional village of Hahoe, where she was welcomed by thousands of residents and tourists. 

The villagers hosted a traditional Korean-style banquet and a unique performance for her. Meanwhile, her husband Prince Philip visited the United Nations truce village of Panmunjeom on the inter-Korean border.

Queen Elizabeth II makes a toast with a Buddhist monk at Hahoe Village in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

Ambassador to the U.K. Kim Gunn last year on Oct. 26 submitted his credentials to the queen, visiting Buckingham Palace with his wife and holding a virtual meeting with the queen, who was at Windsor Castle. The ambassador said the queen reminisced about her trip to Andong and she said she got apples from the city for her birthday every year given Andong's famous apple orchards.

Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to visit the Korean Peninsula since Korea and Britain established diplomatic relations in 1883. She will forever be remembered by Koreans and many other people around the world.

Ambassador to the U.K. Kim Gunn on Oct. 26, 2021, and his wife holds a virtual meeting at Buckingham Palace in London with Queen Elizabeth II, who was at Windsor Castle.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.