Queen Elizabeth Land In Antarctic Named After Monarch To Commemorate Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth Land

They're not your average Christmas presents; place mats and then a piece of the Antarctic.

But when William Hague met with the monarch on Tuesday to visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, following her visiting Cabinet, he announced the Queen would have a southern part of the British Antarctic named after her.

'Queen Elizabeth Land' is 169,000 square miles - almost twice the size of Britain.

One is not amused? The land was named after the Queen

According to the Foreign Office this is not the first time that land in Antarctica has been named after The Queen.

There is also Princess Elizabeth land in East Antarctica, which was discovered in 1931. The monarch was also presented with 60 table mats with images of Buckingham Palace as a gift by the Cabinet.

William Hague said it was a "fitting tribute" to the Queen at the end of her Diamond Jubilee year.

"The British Antarctic Territory is a unique and important member of the network of fourteen UK Overseas Territories. To be able to recognise the UK’s commitment to Antarctica with a permanent association with Her Majesty is a great honour."

Those on Twitter had more to say, see a selection of the best tweets below.

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