Mandela meets Queen on UK visit

Nelson Mandela has met the Queen as part of a week-long UK visit marking the former South African president's 90th birthday.

They had a private audience at Buckingham Palace.

The statesman later hosted a dinner party fundraiser for celebrities and world leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and actor Will Smith.

Mr Mandela arrived in the UK on Sunday ahead of a birthday concert in London's Hyde Park on Friday.

The former South African president was greeted by 520 guests at his dinner party, including US chat show host Oprah Winfrey, activist Sir Bob Geldof and actor Robert De Niro.

Warm friendship

Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his role leading the campaign against apartheid in South Africa before being elected his country's president in 1994.

He officially retired from politics nine years ago, but despite his age and ill health he has continued to campaign around the globe for peace and an end to poverty.

The Queen and Mr Mandela have met on several occasions over the past decade and are said to have developed a warm friendship.

The concert in Hyde Park will include acts such as Queen, Leona Lewis and Annie Lennox.

Mr Mandela was born in South Africa's Eastern Cape on 18 July, 1918.

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