The stop
was part of the queen's efforts to use celebrations marking her 50 years on
the throne to celebrate the country's religious diversity. Queen Makes History With Sikh Visit
Aug 1 London
from Associated Press
(AP) - During her Golden Jubilee tour Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II ( news -
web sites) became the first reigning British monarch to visit a Sikh temple
in this country.
The stop
was part of the queen's efforts to use celebrations marking her 50 years on
the throne to celebrate the country's religious diversity.
On Wednesday, she became the first sitting monarch to visit a mosque in Britain.
Earlier, she visited a Hindu temple, and soon she will stop at one of the country's
synagogues. 
At the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Leicester, the queen was hailed by
the people there as the "queen of all faiths."
She slipped off her black leather shoes and put on skin-colored slippers before
meeting Sikh leaders in the colorful prayer hall.
Later, in the temple's museum, she was given a gold ceremonial sword symbolizing
"self defense and defense of the innocent."
"On you, we place our affection, respect, love and loyalty," said Leicester Council of Faiths chairman Resham Singh Sandhu, who is a Sikh.