Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to the rescue of Commonwealth Leader, Queen Elizabeth II of England, when she was drenched in anxiety over delayed arrival of guests at a Commonwealth summit reception in Malta, a report from the area said.

The report, by AFP, said that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were made to wait for world leaders at a drinks reception in Malta on Friday after the high-level guests got stuck in traffic on the Mediterranean island.

The queen and her eldest son were hosting a drinks party at the presidential San Anton Palace after the opening ceremony of the 2015 Commonwealth summit, the report said.

“But the pair were left waiting for five minutes for some of the 10 new Commonwealth leaders attending, after most of them fell foul of heavy security measures which closed many roads,” the report said.

It quoted Prince Charles as quipping “Are you sure they’re here?” “as the queen, dressed in an aqua-green coat and hat with pink flowers on it, peered around the entrance to the Grand Master’s Hall where the reception was to be held.”

According to AFP, “Relief came in the form of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari – the first to arrive at the reception, where pomegranate and orange juice and Australian sparkling wine were served with a selection of canapes.”

News Express reports that President Buhari, 72, is reputed for his strong belief in order and discipline, which includes early arrival at events and orderly conduct. So strong is his attachment to this that the retired army general launched a war against indiscipline during his days as military ruler from January 1984 to August 1985.

•Photo shows President Buhari (second row, extreme right) and other Commonwealth leaders at the Malta 2015 CHOGM.

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