Travelling On A Tightrope: The Sovereign Abroad 1997-1999

June 1997: Canada

November 1999: Africa

THE QUEEN'S visit to Africa brings to five the number of official and state visits abroad since Labour came to power. Not all have been crowned with success.

After the Queen travelled to Canada in June 1997, it emerged that she had sacked her hairdresser. And in October 1997, when the Queen visited India and Pakistan to mark 50 years' independence, the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, enraged Delhi by suggesting Britain was ready to mediate in the Kashmir dispute.

But a September 1998 royal visit to Brunei went smoothly, and a visit to Korea in April this year was described a "huge success".

October 1997: India and Pakistan