QUEEN Elizabeth II hailed President Nelson Mandela as the saviour of South Africa at the start of an emotional state visit to Britain last night.
After many thousands thronged the streets of London to greet the South African president, she praised his leadership in uniting black and white in a fledgling democracy.
"You have, yourself, provided the leadership and, by your willingness to embrace your former captors, have set the course towards national reconciliation and freedom for all the people of South Africa," she said.
At a Buckingham Palace state banquet in his honour, she told Mr Mandela: "Mr President, South Africa has a special place in my heart and in the hearts of the British people."
Mr Mandela said his visit, together with the queens state visit to South Africa in March last year, had "set the seal" on the new relationship between the two countries.
Mr Mandela was officially welcomed to Britain by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on London's Horse Guards. More than 6,000 people packed the public stands on Horse Guards to see Mr Mandela arrive.
Mr Mandela appeared relaxed as he met Prince Philip, the Prime Minister, Mr Major and senior Cabinet ministers at the official start to the visit.
Mr Mandela's visit is also the people's visit and before the official start of the trip he had already visited the streets of London to meet the public.
An early riser - a habit from 27 years of imprisonment under South Africa's former apartheid regime - Mr Mandela got up at dawn and, at 5.15 a.m. went for a stroll in Hyde Park.
During the walk Mr Mandela, wearing a South African Olympic squad tracksuit and shadowed by armed bodyguards, stopped to shake hands with early-morning strollers and commuters.
After lunch at Buckingham Palace there was the traditional exchange of gifts.
The queen gave Mr Mandela an eight-volume set of Dr Johnson's edition of Shakespeare, published in 1768 and presented in a specially-made leather box. Princess Zenani, his daughter, was given a Royal Crown Derby tea set for six in Milldale pattern.
Mr Mandela presented the queen with a set of four gold commemorative coins and gave Prince Philip a chess set of African figures.
Mr Mandela called on the Queen Mother at Clarence House for tea, followed by an address of welcome from the Lord Mayor and councillors.
He then visited Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.