Welcome to London: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh greet Mexico's First Lady Angélica Rivera at Horse Guard's Parade
Chic in a
white full-skirted coat and a demure black hat, Mexico's glamorous First
Lady, former soap actress Angélica Rivera, 45, appeared to enjoy every
moment of the ceremonial welcome unfolding on Horse Guards Parade in
front of her.
Later,
as the second wife of Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, processed
down The Mall seated beside the Duke of Edinburgh in the Australian
State Coach, she beamed and winked at the crowds - much to a chuckling
Philip's amusement.
With
her husband, Ms Rivera is making an official state visit to the UK and
was welcomed by the Queen, herself resplendent in a delicate ivory tweed
wool coat and hat by Angela Kelly.
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Official visit: Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto shakes hands with the Queen at Horse Guard's Parade
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First winker! Ms Rivera winked at the assembled crowds as she arrived at Horse Guards Parade for the ceremonial welcome
Enjoying the visit: Mexico's glamorous
First Lady, Angélica Rivera, smiled broadly as she watched her husband
inspect his Honour Guard
Tradition:
Two official visits from international heads of state take place each
year and both are hosted by the Queen (pictured with Ms Rivera)
But
despite the presence of the Queen and the best efforts of Camilla, who
was chic in a purple ensemble, all eyes were on the glamorous Mexican
First Lady.
Ms Rivera,
who has been compared to the former French First Lady Carla Bruni in the
past, has long been a famous face in her native Mexico, having risen to
fame when she appeared on telenovela Dulce Desafío in 1989.
Further
parts followed, with the 45-year-old winning a place in Mexican hearts
for good when she took on the role of the scheming Silvana in the
enormously popular telenovela Alcanzar una estrella II in 1991.
Three
years later, Ms Rivera married her first husband, TV producer José
Alberto Castro, with whom she had three daughters: Angélica Sofía, 19,
Fernanda, 16, and Regina, 10.
But
just three years after Regina was born, her parents divorced and in
2010, Ms Rivera married her current husband, who was then Governor of
Mexico State.
An
astute political campaigner, she became a familiar figure on the
campaign trail during the 2012 elections, and, since 2013, has taken on a
government role as the head of the National System for Integral Family
Development, which promotes family welfare.
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Glamorous: Mexico's impeccably dressed First Lady Angélica Rivera has been compared to former French First Lady, Carla Bruni
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All prepared: The Queen, who looked
wonderful in her wool tweed Angela Kelly ensemble, will host the Mexican
couple at Buckingham Palace
All smiles:
The Queen and Prince Philip were on cheerful form for the ceremonial
welcome and beamed as the Mexican couple arrived
Royal welcome: The Prince of Wales and
the Duchess of Cornwall were hosted by the Mexican presidential couple
during their tour last year
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Getting ready: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh join David Cameron, Theresa May and Nick Clegg ahead of the formal welcome
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Line-up: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh shook hands with all the politicians, among them a flamboyant Theresa May
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Warm: The Queen offered one of her biggest smiles of the day to Prime Minister David Cameron who was standing next to Nick Clegg
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Enjoying the moment: David Cameron smiled as he bowed to the Queen while they shook hands ahead of the Mexican couple's arrival
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Taking part: David Cameron bows to the Queen as he waits for the Mexican couple to arrive alongside Theresa May and Nick Clegg
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Sharing a joke: The Queen smiles up at David Cameron as he exchanges a quip with Theresa May
It
is a role of which her husband, who came to power promising to smash
the Mexican drug cartels and restore the economy, can be proud and
completes the makeover she has been undergoing since their wedding.
Shortly
after the marriage, Ms Rivera gave up her acting career, saying she
wished to focus on 'this great responsibility by his side' and become
more 'dedicated to my home, to my children'.
She
has also swapped the sexier ensembles of her acting days for chicer,
more conservative get-ups like the white number worn today as she
watched her husband inspect the ceremonial honour guard drawn from the
1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards from her perch beside the Queen.
Having
wowed the Press during Charles and Camilla's visit to Mexico in
November 2014, Ms Rivera will be hoping to repeat the trick during the
couple's three-day visit to London.
She
certainly appeared to have impressed the Duke of Edinburgh who smiled
benignly at her as they followed the Queen and President Nieto, who were
travelling in the Diamond Jubilee Coach, down The Mall.
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Big arrival: Once President Nieto and the First Lady arrived, the Queen introduced them to the assembled politicians
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Nice to meet you: President Nieto is introduced to the Prime Minister, watched by the Queen and Home Secretary, Theresa May
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Making the introductions: President Nieto shakes hands with Nick Clegg while Angélica Rivera is introduced to David Cameron
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Gesture: Next came a rendition of the Mexican National Anthem, which was played by the Welsh Guards
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Who knew they were friends? Theresa May bursts into laughter as she chats to Nick Clegg during the ceremonial welcome
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What happened? Something caused Theresa May to pull a face as she watched the ceremonial welcome unfold
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Honour guard: President Nieto's Guard of Honour was drawn from the men of the 1st Battalion, the Welsh Guards
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Diminutive: The 48-year-old Mexican president was dwarfed by the bearskin-wearing Welsh Guardsman who escorted him
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On parade: President Nieto was joined by the 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh for the official inspection
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Traditional: After the welcome, the party processed down Horse Guards Parade with President Nieto travelling with the Queen
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Spectacular: The carriage used for the
occasion was the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which is decorated with
English Lions Rampant
The
coach, which was first unveiled during the 2014 State Opening of
Parliament and features English Lions Rampant on the roof, was followed
by the Australian State Coach carrying Ms Rivera and the Duke of
Edinburgh.
That
was followed by coaches containing the politicians and Prince Charles
who, with the Duchess of Cornwall, had earlier met with President Nieto
at his London hotel. Camilla, who was elegant in a purple ensemble,
travelled with her husband in another carriage.
The
Mexican state visit comes after Charles and Camilla travelled to the
country last November. During their trip, the royal couple enjoyed a
whistle-stop tour of the South American country, which took in four
different cities.
Among
the highlights was a stop at the Museo del Paste [Pasty Museum] Real
del Monte and a reception at the historic Antiguo Colegio de San
Ildefonso to announce the Year of the UK in Mexico and the Year of
Mexico in the UK in 2015.
That
is the major reason for President Nieto's return visit to the UK, with
the premier today declaring in a newspaper article that 'history has
brought the United Kingdom and Mexico together and our values will bring
us closer still.'
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Showing him the sights: The Queen was seen pointing out places of interest as she and President Nieto processed down the Mall
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On their way: The Duke of Edinburgh
and First Lady Angélica Rivera travelled in the Australian State Coach,
given to the Queen in 1988
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Spectacular: The coach, which was
first used during last year's State Opening of Parliament, contains wood
from the doomed Mary Rose
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Safe return: The Diamond Jubilee State
Coach carrying the Queen and President Enrique Peña Nieto pulls up
outside Buckingham Palace
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Made it: The Diamond Jubilee State Coach comes to a halt in front of Buckingham Palace at the end of the procession
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Royal escort: The Mexican premier was ushered inside by the Queen, while the Duke of Edinburgh escorted the First Lady
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Friendly: The Duke of Edinburgh chats to President Nieto watched by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
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Official photo: The quartet were flanked by guards with their swords drawn as they took part in the official photo
After
a private lunch with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham
Palace, the couple were shown Mexican items in the Royal Collection,
with Ms Rivera again leaving Prince Philip smiling.
The
viewing, a state visit tradition, gave President Nieto the chance to
look at some of the gifts presented to Charles and Camilla in Mexico
last year, most of which, like other official gifts, are turned over to
the Royal Collection.
He
will have another chance to speak with the royal couple during a
private tea at Clarence House with his wife, which will be hosted by the
Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Afterwards,
President Nieto will visit Westminster Abbey before continuing on to
the Palace of Westminster where he will make a speech in front of the
House of Commons.
Tonight
will see the Mexican premier join the Queen and other senior members of
the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace for the official state dinner and
reception. And once again, Ms Rivera will be there, glamorously
dressed, by his side.
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Getting along: Ms Rivera appeared to
get along famously with the Duke of Edinburgh and chatted happily during
a tour of the Royal Collection
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History: During the tour, the Duke of Edinburgh showed her the royal collection of Mexican memorabilia
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Interested: President Nieto looked animated as he enjoyed a discussion about Mexican handicrafts with the Queen
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What's next? The visit to the Royal
Collection is a state visit tradition, with the visitor shown items from
his or her home country
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Afternoon tea: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a tea for the couple at Clarence House
PRESIDENT'S VISIT EXPLAINED: CENTURIES OF TIES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND MEXICO… BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME
Today’s
state visit by Enrique Peña Nieto is the high point of a year-long
effort to forge stronger links between Britain and Mexico.
Prince
Charles used a trip to the South American country in October to
announce 2015 would be the 'Year of the United Kingdom in Mexico' and
the 'Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom'.
It
is aimed at increasing economic, educational and cultural understanding
between the two countries to encourage greater cooperation between
them. There will be trade talks, food shows, exhibitions, concerts and
festivals.
As
an emerging global economy, Mexico is seen as key to unlocking exports
for British companies in new markets. With the Eurozone still in the
doldrums, UK firms have been urged to look beyond Europe to new markets
like Mexico, India and China.
The UK is Mexico’s sixth largest trading partner in Europe and Mexico’s seventh largest global investor.
Mexico
also wants to attract more British tourists – last year more than
450,000 Brits went there, up 11 per cent in a year making it the third
largest group of travellers after the US and Canada.
David
Cameron led a trade mission to Mexico in 2012 after it hosted the G20
while Nick Clegg has made two visits, his first in 2011 the most senior
minister to embark on bilateral business for more than a decade.
Mr
Peña Nieto said ahead of today’s visit: 'The positive influence of this
great country has nurtured Mexican culture for nearly two centuries, so
my visit represents one more step in the never-ending journey to
tighten our bonds.
'History
has brought the United Kingdom and Mexico together and our values will
bring us closer still,' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph. 'I am sure that
this will be a very prosperous year for both the British and Mexican
people. The best is yet to come.’
Words: Matt Chorley, MailOnline Political Editor
Family affair: Prince Charles was joined by Camilla, who looked lovely in her purple ensemble, for the parade
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Beautifully done: The procession was accompanied by troops from the Household Cavalry who are billeted in nearby Kensington
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Oh dear: Things became too much for one of the cavalry horses, which went on to throw its rider and trot away down the Mall
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Rolling out the red carpet: The Mall
was decorated with British and Mexican flags, while the Royal Standard
flew above Buckingham Palace
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Reunited: The Mexican couple's day began with a welcome from the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at their hotel
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Returning the favour: Prince Charles
and the Duchess of Cornwall were hosted by President Nieto during their
visit to Mexico last year
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Happy reunion: The Prince of Wales looked pleased to see President Nieto, who was accompanied by his wife, Angélica Rivera
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Morning call: Charles and Camilla are hosting a tea for the Mexican couple at Clarence House this afternoon
Long day ahead: The royal couple joined their Mexican guests for the journey to Horse Guards Parade