British Queen plans further foray into cyberspace

London, Sept 11 (PTI) The British Queen, who was the
first monarch to set up her own channel on the video-sharing
website YouTube, plans to make a further foray into the world
of cyberspace with a visit to Google.

Eighty-two-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, who used the
Royal Channel on YouTube to broadcast her Christmas message
last year, plans to visit the British headquarters of the
world's most used Internet search engine next month.

The monarch, who learnt to use a computer only two
years back, has become so fascinated by the Internet that she
now regularly emails all her grandchildren.

"During her reign the Queen has always kept up to date
with the latest technology. The visit to Google is another
example and shows how willing she is to embrace new technology
and change," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson was quoted as
saying by the Daily Telegraph newspaper Thursday.

The Queen, while conferring an honorary knighthood on
Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 2005, had confessed that she
had not yet used a computer.

Now there is an Internet cafe at Buckingham Palace.
The monarch writes all her emails, sends text messages and
last year was presented with an iPod by Prince William - a
Facebook fan.

According to the British daily, the Queen will be
accompanied to Google by the Duke of Edinburgh who at 87 is
also one of the most technically aware members of the royal
family. PTI RBS