Queen's speech cancelled

New Delhi - The first phase of Queen Elizabeth II's state visit to India ended here yesterday as the British monarch flew to the country's south. The day had been marred by hostile press reports in which Prince Philip was accused of insensitivity after he was reported to have queried the number of victims at a massacre of civilians by British troops in Amritsar in 1919. And then it was announced that a speech due to be made by her in Madras had been cancelled. British officials played down the affair but said the speech, underlining the warm ties between the two countries, had been dropped at the last minute because of Indian protocol.