Rice plays piano for Queen

Outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played the piano for Britain's Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace yesterday as a farewell gesture before the end of the Bush administration's term next month.

Rice's spokesman Sean McCormack said on Tuesday the top US diplomat played Brahms and was accompanied on violin by Louise Miliband, the wife of Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband, along with three London Symphony Orchestra members.

An accomplished pianist who ultimately chose foreign policy instead of becoming a professional musician, Rice has made several public music performances as the top US diplomat.

McCormack said the royal recital was in a music room at the palace and the Queen had presented a recording of the performance to Rice afterwards. The musicians practiced for an hour beforehand, he added.

"It was all organised by the British and just a very nice gesture as a farewell gift," McCormack said.

Rice is in London on what is expected to be her final British visit before President-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20, 2009. Rice will be replaced by former first lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

Rice moved on to Brussels today for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers and is then set to fly to New Delhi for meetings with Indian officials after last week's attacks in Mumbai.