.jpg) | |
| Date | 3 to 8 May 2007 |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, D.C.,Richmond,Jamestown,Williamsburg,Lexington,Louisville,Greenbelt[1] |
| Type | State visit |
| Participants | Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh |
| ||
|---|---|---|
Personal Reign | ||
 | ||
From 3 to 8 May 2007,Queen Elizabeth II made a state visit to theUnited States with her husband,Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She was received by PresidentGeorge W. Bush on 7 May. The visit marked the last time she undertook a state visit to the United States. Bush had previously been hosted by the Queen duringa state visit to the United Kingdom in November 2003. This was the eighth state visit received by President Bush.[2]
Queen Elizabeth II andPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrived atRichmond International Airport and between 3–4 May visitedRichmond,Williamsburg andJamestown in Virginia to mark the400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.[2][3][4] The Queen had previously visited Jamestown for its 350th anniversary in 1957.[5] On 3 May, the Queen addressed a special session of theVirginia General Assembly in Richmond in the presence of Virginia governorTim Kaine,[3] stating: "This four hundredth anniversary marks a moment to recognise the deep friendship which exists between our two countries."[6] The Queen also ment with victims of theVirginia Tech shooting.[7] On 4 May, the Queen and the Duke were accompanied by Vice PresidentDick Cheney and Second LadyLynne Cheney during their tour of Jamestown and Williamsburg.[3] The Duke also undertook engagements inNorfolk, Virginia, visiting the families of 14 service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.[2][8]
On 5 May, the royal couple travelled to Kentucky to attend the2007 Kentucky Derby.[2] The Queen was a special guest ofChurchill Downs and had stated that it was one of her dreams to attend the Kentucky Derby.[9] The Queen and the Duke then visited Washington, D.C. between 7–8 May.[2] Upon their arrival on the South Lawn of the White House the royal couple was greeted by PresidentGeorge W. Bush and First LadyLaura Bush.[2][10] A 21-gun salute was fired to mark the occasion and the Queen and the President inspected the troops on the lawn before delivering remarks.[2][11] The President stated that the two countries "have built our special relationship on the surest foundations -- our deep and abiding love of liberty."[12] The Queen described her presence in the American capital as "a further opportunity to acknowledge the present strength of our relationship."[13] A state banquet was given that night in the State Dining Room at the White House,[2][10] during which the President and the Queen made remarks and exchanged toasts.[14] This followed by a reception in the East Room where violinistItzhak Perlman performed for the guests.[15] The ceremony was awhite tie event,[2][10] and the first such event hosted by the Bush administration.[16] The U.S. media also reported that the President had received lessons on etiquette ahead of the visit.[17] The First Lady personally oversaw the preparations and provided input for the five course menu served to the delegations.[2][10]
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and First Lady Laura Bush visited theChildren's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. on 8 May.[2][10] The royal couple also touredNASA's Goddard Space Flight Center inGreenbelt, Maryland and met with NASA employees and scientists.[18] The Queen also attended a garden party at theBritish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and hosted the presidential couple there for dinner in the evening.[2][10][19] The Queen famously teased President Bush for an earlier slip-up during the welcoming ceremony at the White House during which he had stated that the Queen had helped celebrate the U.S. bicentennial in 1776, rather than 1976, prompting the Queen to begin her speech by stating "I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, 'When I was here in 1776...'"[20]
| Diplomatic posts |
|
|---|---|
| Diplomacy |
|
| Conflicts | |
| Incidents |
|
| Military relations |
|
| Related |
|
_(3x4_close_cropped).jpg)
