London, Mar. 24 : The The Castle of Mey, the former Highland home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother has become embroiled in an equality row after opening its doors to Christian weddings, while refusing to hold ceremonies for homosexual or lesbian couples.

The trustees at the Castle of Mey near John o'' Groats, said the late Queen Mother preferred that people were married in a Christian ceremony and that they had decided to offer only Christian weddings conducted by a priest or minister.

London, Mar. 6 : Ahead of G-20 economic summit, Queen Elizabeth is expected to hold a private "getting-to-know-you" meeting with Obama.

The Sun quoted a source, as saying, "There is a wish to do these things as discreetly as possible in the first instance."

Her Majesty will meet the new US President in advance of an economic summit in London.

President Obama will fly with wife Michelle on Air Force One to Stansted, Essex. The private talks will be held the next day at Buckingham Palace.

Washington  - Queen Elizabeth II has decided to bestow honorary knighthood on longtime US Senator Edward Kennedy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Wednesday.

Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Brown praised Kennedy for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and expand health care to millions of Americans.

"For all those things we owe a great debt to the life and courage of Senator Edward Kennedy," Brown said.

London - Britain's royal family turned out in force Tuesday to unveil a bronze memorial of the late Queen Mother, whose death aged 101 prompted an extraordinary outpouring of grief seven years ago.

Queen Elizabeth II, 82, and her husband Prince Philip, 87, led the unveiling ceremony in The Mall Tuesday, which was attended by the queen's four children and some of her grandchildren, including the princes William and Harry.

London - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has taken the unusual step of cancelling a state visit scheduled for next month amid reports of concern over the health of her 87-year-old husband, Prince Philip, it was reported Friday.

However, Buckingham Palace, while confirming a cancellation, insisted that the trip, to an undisclosed destination, had not been called off for health reasons, but due to "other commitments."

Earlier this week Prince Philip missed his third engagement in eight days after hurting his back while carriage driving, the palace said earlier.