| Date | 6 to 11 July 1976 |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia,Washington, D.C.,New York City,New Haven,Charlottesville,Providence,Boston[1][2] |
| Type | State visit |
| Participants | Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
| ||
|---|---|---|
Personal Reign | ||
From 6 to 11 July 1976,Queen Elizabeth II, made a state visit to theUnited States with her husband,Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during the celebration of thebicentennial of theAmerican independence. She was received by PresidentGerald Ford on 7 July 1976.[3] The visit marked the second time she undertook a state visit to the United States as monarch.[4]
Queen Elizabeth II andPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived inPhiladelphia on 6 July 1976 and after carrying out some engagements spent the night abroad the royal yachtHMYBritannia.[1] The arrival ceremony took place on 7 July, after whichQueen Elizabeth II presentedPresident Ford with "a soup tureen that featured a painted image of the White House and Independence Hall" which later went on display at theSmithsonian Institution.[4] The President and the First Lady in return presented the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with a bronze statue byHarry Jackson depicting cowboy Calyton Danks astride the horse Steamboat.[5] The state banquet was held in the Rose Garden in a tent.[4][6] At the request of the Queen,Bob Hope andTelly Savalas were invited for the entertainment portion of the banquet in the East Room.[6] First LadyBetty Ford described the Queen as "easy to deal with. She was very definite about what she wanted and what she didn't want."[6] On 8 July, the Queen visited theU.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian before hosting a banquet at theBritidh Embassy in Washington, D.C..[1][7]
On 9 July, the Queen and the Duke sailed intoNew York Harbor abroad the royal yacht after carrying out engagements inNew York City held a banquet on the royal yacht and subsequently left forNew Haven, Connecticut.[1] On 10 July they disembarked at New Haven before flying fromTweed-New Haven Airport toCharlottesville, Virginia.[1][8] 50,000 people lined the docks, streets and the airport to see the couple during their brief stop in New Haven.[8] They then departed Charlottesville forNewport, Rhode Island, and sailed overnight toBoston.[1] On 11 July they carried out engagements in Boston before departing for Canada.[1] Her visit to Boston was marked by a 21-gun salute, and in the North End she met with GovernorMichael Dukakis before having lunch with MayorKevin White at City Hall.[9] The Queen and the Duke also greeted the crowds from the balcony of theOld State House.[10][11]