London  - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent a message of condolence to the Italian President following the devastating earthquake around L'Aquila, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday.

The monarch expressed her sympathy at the disaster in a private message to President Giorgio Napolitano, it said. The queen had met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berluconi at a reception to mark the Group of 20 (G20) summit in London last week.(dpa)