It's been announced that former Russian President Boris Yeltsin has died of heart failure at the age of 76.
The former President, who was Russia's first elected Head of State, enjoyed several meetings with members of the Royal Family, most notably the Queen and Prince Philip during the couple's historic visit to Russia in 1994.
The tour was the first by a reigning monarch to Russia. Aside from the obvious political and historic connotations to the visit, it was also one of the more personally evocative royal tours.
As is traditional, the President and the monarch exchanged gifts, a simple act which helps towards strengthening diplomatic as well as inter-personal relations.
In truth, the Royal Family are known worldwide for often giving, shall we say, rather 'cheap' presents.
Prince Charles himself has often appeared more than a little embarrassed when he hands over a simple framed photograph of himself only to receive in return a lavish suite of priceless jewels.
During the Queen's State Visit to Russia in October 1994, during which the Queen and Duke stayed at The Kremlin, Her Majesty had what appeared to be an outwardly meagre gift for the President: a packet of garden seeds.
"If you had spent your life in a warship you would not know about taste"
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's response to a snob who questioned her grandson Prince Andrew's taste due to the supermarket style design of his Sunninghill home
