Rice plays piano for Queen

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

Rice's spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday 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.