The BBC's Nicholas Witchell: "In her speech the Queen talked of it as a tragic chapter in the history of both countries"

Speaking at a state banquet during her visit to South Africa, the Queen said the loss of life and suffering on both sides in the war should be remembered with sadness.

There have been calls from some Afrikaners for the Queen to apologise over the war, and there was a small protest at the official ceremony welcoming her to South Africa on Wednesday morning.

Some protesters demonstrated near the ceremony welcoming the Queen

In her speech in the capital Pretoria, the Queen said: "We should remember with sadness the loss of life and suffering, not only of British or Boer soldiers, but of all those caught up in the war - black and white, men, women and children.

"No-one who reads of the distressing conditions in the detention camps which held both white and black detainees, could fail to be moved even today, 100 years later."

She said it was fitting that a "tragic chapter in the history of both our countries" should be remembered.

Bad feeling

Boer women and children were detained in concentration camps during the war, which took place between 1899 to 1902, as the British responded to Boer guerrilla tactics.

Poor sanitation caused deaths from disease of almost 28,000 Boers and many thousands of black refugees.

South African president Thabo Mbeki greets the royal visitor on Wednesday morning

And the bad feeling which persists over the conflict has been rekindled by the approaching centenary of the start of the war.

South African President Thabo Mbeki also addressed the war in his speech at the banquet on Wednesday night.

He said South Africans were approaching the centenary in "a spirit of reconciliation and nation building".

He said: "Long divided by racism, we now have the opportunity and possibility to unite and together say never again should our country fall victim to war.

"We also approach the commemoration in a true spirit of friendship with the United Kingdom and its people."

The Queen, 73, wore diamond jewellery given to her by the South African government on her 21st birthday which she celebrated in South Africa.

Warm friendship

The banquet came at the end of a busy day of engagements for the royal party, which included an official welcoming ceremony and a meeting with former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The Queen and Mr Mandela have formed a warm friendship, which was in evidence as she handed out prizes in an essay-writing competition organised by the British Council.

Posing for a group picture with the nine regional winners in the competition, the Queen told them: "This is one of the worst parts of being Queen - having to pose for photographs."

Mr Mandela touched the Queen's arm and said: "Your Majesty, everybody wants a pound of your flesh."

The prize-giving ceremony also gave the Queen an insight into South Africa's horrific sex crime problem.