Washington – Queen Elizabeth II arrived Monday in Washington for the grand finale to a state visit that’s whirled from history to horse racing to high society with barely enough time for a spot of tea and a cucumber sandwich in between.
Hugs from schoolchildren, a private luncheon and the Bush administration’s first white-tie state dinner kept the queen changing hats and offering polite greetings most of the day and well into the evening.
The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were treated to a trumpet fanfare, a 21-gun salute and a parade by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps before about 7,000 dignitaries, legislators, Cabinet members and invited guests on the South Lawn of the White House on a blossom-fresh spring day.
President Bush welcomed the queen with a royal faux pas about her age, suggesting she had witnessed American independence in 1776.
In expressing admiration for her long friendship with the United States, Bush noted that Queen Elizabeth II had dined with 10 presidents and had “helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 …” He quickly caught and corrected his mistake, “in 1976.”
Her Majesty did not appear to be amused.
Laughter rippled across the South Lawn, but the queen, who celebrated her 81st birthday last month, shot Bush a look that he sheepishly acknowledged “only a mother could give a child.”
The 134 guests invited to Monday night’s gala included Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and golfer Arnold Palmer but no Hollywood stars – unusual for a state dinner.
Horse-racing fan
Scoring a last-minute invitation was winning Kentucky Derby jockey Calvin Borel, cheered across the finish line Saturday by the queen. (Horse racing is one of her hobbies.)
Throughout the day Monday, official remarks ricocheted between gravitas and gaiety, the president soberly referring to terrorism, the first lady extolling spun-sugar flowers, the queen talking high-tech.
“I particularly look forward, in the next two days, to seeing at firsthand something of how the cutting edge of science and technology can take us to the next phases of discovery and exploration in human endeavor,” the queen said in her prepared remarks. Her itinerary today includes a stop at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
In his remarks, Bush sought to emphasize the British government’s support of his administration in Iraq and elsewhere.
“Today, our two nations are defending liberty against tyranny and terror,” he said. “We’re resisting those who murder the innocent to advance a hateful ideology, whether they kill in New York or London or Kabul or Baghdad.”
Speaking after Bush, the queen said her visit to Jamestown last week to mark the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English colony in North America had given her “new insight” into this country’s foundation.
The leaders then headed into the White House for a private lunch with their families.
There was no word on whether the queen, who owns 14 dogs, had made the acquaintance of four-legged Bush family members Barney and Miss Beazley.
After lunch, the Bushes accompanied the royal couple across the street to their guest quarters at Blair House, stopping along the way for an unannounced appearance before 369 squealing elementary and middle school children from the IDEA charter school and the British School in the District of Columbia.
Bush, in the unusual position of playing second fiddle, followed while the queen accepted bouquets of flowers and signed autographs.
“Oh my God! Ahhhhhh!” shrieked 14-year-old eighth-grader Shayla Young, faking a swoon after giving the president a tight hug. The queen accepted flowers and signed autographs for the youngsters.
Violinist Perlman on bill
On Monday evening, surrounded by a full honor cordon, the first couple greeted the royals on the North Portico for the white-tie-and-tails dinner. Laura Bush helped the queen from her car, and advance coordination kept the ladies’ attire from clashing. The first lady wore an aqua gown with silver beading and a bolero jacket, while the queen had a cream gown with a sparkling bodice and a blue sash.
Other than the athletes, the celebrity quotient was low. A number of top Bush fundraisers made the cut, including automotive executive James Click and former Enron president Richard Kinder.
The menu and entertainment were designed as a showcase of America’s best, with virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman performing what he called “musical bonbons” as an after-dinner treat.
The evening was capped with songs from the U.S. Army Chorus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
