Toronto, Sunday
The Queen spent today with people from Hong Kong - in Canada.
For although she is on the other side of the world in Toronto, Hong Kong is not far from her thoughts.
On the eve of the handover to China, the Queen was in the city's China Town where most of the residents originated from Hong Kong.
She visited the Mon Sheong Home for the Aged, to unveil the cornerstone for a new wing, and must have thought she was in the Far East. A traditional Chinese dragon and lions dance greeted the royal visitor.
Inside the home, the Queen met 102-year-old Mrs Yick Oi Yu Chan, who clung to the gloved royal hand and presented flowers.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said it was ''particularly appropriate'' that the Queen should be with the Chinese community close to the handover of Hong Kong.
A message from the Queen will be read to the people of Hong Kong by the Prince of Wales who is representing his mother at the ceremony.
The Prince is staying on board the Royal Yacht Britannia and is expected to be in touch with the Queen, who is on a 10-day tour of Canada.
Earlier, hundreds of people waited in the hot sun to see the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Toronto's St James's Cathedral for a service to celebrate the cathedral's 200th anniversary.
The Queen waved to the large crowd, which included war veterans proudly wearing their medals and maroon berets.
The Duke attended Toronto's Convention Centre, where he officially opened the new south building and presented gold certificates to 70 achievers in his award scheme.
After a lunch at the Royal York Hotel, where they are staying, the Queen and Prince Philip visited St Andrew's Church and the Regimental Museum of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, of whom the Queen has been Colonel-in-Chief since 1947.
Tonight the royal couple were attending a reception hosted by Ontario's Premier Mike Harris.
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