Karen Cummins (6) thought she was "very young to be a queen"."But I thought she was lovely. She asked me about my broken arm and I told her it was very sore," she explained, holding up a green-bandaged forearm.
The glamorous young Queen Rania of Jordan made a brief visit to the Fatima Mansions flat complex in Dublin's south inner city yesterday, to meet young people and community workers. Patron of the International Youth Federation, she was invited to meet young people in the complex by the Irish Youth Federation.
In crisp sunshine she met, among others, Karen, before visiting the Fatima Community Centre. Journalists were not allowed into the centre though the Queen emerged about ten minutes later for more hand-shaking with four- and five-year-olds.
A number expressed disappointment, having been led to believe the British glamour model Jordan was to visit. However the heavy Garda presence, the large number of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Jordanian embassy staff, security personnel, an RTÉ camera crew and about eight press photographers, as well as the whirring presence of a helicopter overhead, lent a sense of occasion to their Monday afternoon.
Queen Rania, dressed in beige slacks, a mint green trench coat and a jewelled peach and coral scarf, was careful to take time from the handshaking to turn and watch the efforts of the Fatima majorettes, after which she turned to one of her chaperons to say, "They are very good".
She chatted with some more young people about their music tastes and then went to meet some of the elderly residents of Fatima Mansions, including Ms Bridget Gavin (85), who said after she was "beautiful, God bless her".
Welcoming her, Ms Gemma McKenna, chairwoman of Fatima Groups United - which is working to regenerate the flats - said there had been a lot of bad days and good days in Fatima.
"We've had too many bad ones. Dark days when the clouds of drugs, poverty, ill health and despair hung over our heads. But today is a very bright, colourful day. It's a thrill and privilege to welcome you to Fatima Mansions."
Sister Kathleen MacLennan, co-ordinator of the Children's Development Group in Fatima, said the visit was "very important".
Mark Hennessy adds: Israel's decision to build a security fence around the West Bank and Jerusalem will cause major problems, King Abdullah of Jordan told the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday.
Describing the fence as "a knee-jerk reaction" to violence, the King of Jordan said he understood Israel's need for a security blanket given the number of suicide attacks that have taken place.
However, he warned: "If we were to look slightly further ahead I could see that the wall would be tremendously damaging because it probably destroys the possibility of a two-state solution.
"It creates tremendous problems for us in Jordan," said the King, who was received by the President, Mrs McAleese, in Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday morning.
The Taoiseach hosted a lunch in the King's honour.
