Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British historical past, met with 13 sitting U.S. presidents throughout her lifetime, kindling a string of cordial relationships that helped strengthen the ties between the 2 nations. She died Thursday at age 96.
Harry Truman mentioned she “captured the hearts” of the American public, whereas Barack Obama referred to as her “really one in all my favourite folks.”
Lyndon Johnson is the one one among the many final 14 presidents whom she did not meet.
This is a take a look at the late queen’s historical past with U.S. presidents — together with just a few diplomatic fake pas.
HARRY S. TRUMAN
In 1951, Harry S. Truman greeted then-Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Washington Nationwide Airport when she arrived within the U.S. on Halloween for a two-day keep within the nation’s capital.
“We have now many distinguished guests right here on this metropolis, however by no means earlier than have we had such a beautiful younger couple that so fully captured the hearts of all of us,” Truman advised the pair at an occasion within the Rose Backyard. “We would like you to return again once more.”
DWIGHT EISENHOWER
Dwight Eisenhower, who was awarded a medal by Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, for his work as allied commander throughout World Warfare II, hosted a state dinner within the queen’s honor in October 1957.
The queen reciprocated by internet hosting Eisenhower at Balmoral Fort, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the place he raved about her drop scones, that are primarily British pancakes. The queen later despatched Eisenhower the recipe.
JOHN KENNEDY
In June 1961, the queen hosted John Kennedy and his spouse, Jacqueline Kennedy, for a dinner at Buckingham Palace in the course of the couple’s journey to London. The go to acquired off to a rocky begin. The queen was reportedly upset concerning the first woman’s request that her sister and brother-in-law, who had been divorced twice, attend, whereas Jacqueline Kennedy later complained concerning the absence of two royals she’d hoped to satisfy, Princesses Margaret and Marina.
However, the president despatched the queen a birthday letter after they returned to the U.S., telling her “how grateful my spouse and I are for the cordial hospitality provided to us by your Majesty and Prince Philip throughout our go to to London.” John Kennedy wrote, “We will all the time cherish the reminiscence of that pleasant night.”
RICHARD NIXON
Richard Nixon first met the queen in 1957, when she visited the U.S. They met once more a yr later on the U.S. Embassy in London, when the then-vice president beneath Eisenhower hosted a reception in her honor. The Related Press reported that Nixon was “carrying a borrowed tuxedo that didn’t match” and “the Queen appeared to not discover.”
Nixon returned to the U.Ok. in 1969 as president, and the queen hosted him at an occasion in Buckingham Palace. The Nixons performed host to Elizabeth’s son Prince Charles on the White Home the next yr. “That was the time they have been making an attempt to marry me off to Tricia Nixon,” Charles later advised CNN, referring to Nixon’s daughter.
GERALD FORD
Gerald and Betty Ford hosted the queen for a state dinner on the White Home in July 1976, in honor of the 2 hundredth anniversary of the U.S. declaring independence. The president made unlucky headlines when he requested the queen to bop to the music, “The Girl Is a Tramp.” In her memoir, Betty Ford wrote, “The Queen was straightforward to take care of.”
To make sure a profitable dinner, comic Bob Hope and “Kojak” star Telly Savalas have been invited as a result of the queen “loves” them, Betty Ford wrote. Each attended. She added that “if I hadn’t stored mixing up Your Highness and Your Majesty (he’s His Highness, she’s Her Majesty) I’d give myself 4 stars for the best way that go to went off.”
JIMMY CARTER
The queen hosted Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at Buckingham Palace in 1977, when the president was attending a NATO summit in London. The dinner was greatest remembered for an incident wherein Carter allegedly kissed the Queen Mom on the lips after they have been launched. “He’s the one man, since my expensive husband died, to have had the effrontery to kiss me on the lips,” she reportedly mentioned afterward.
The Washington Put up reported that Carter maintained he’d kissed her on the cheek and that the British press had “grossly distorted” the occasion.
RONALD REAGAN
Ronald Reagan was the primary president invited to remain at Windsor Fort — an expertise he described in his memoir “An American Life” as “a fairy-tale go to.”
“The spotlight of our keep there got here when the queen and I went horseback driving collectively,” Reagan wrote. “I have to admit the queen is kind of an completed horsewoman.”
The Reagans visited the royal household two extra occasions throughout his presidency, and he hosted the queen and Prince Philip at his ranch in California in 1983. Their arrival was delayed by a rainstorm that made the journey up the mountain treacherous. Reagan apologized for the climate, and mentioned the queen replied, “Sure, if it was simply dreary, however that is an journey.”
GEORGE H.W. BUSH
The queen gave George and Barbara Bush a tour of Buckingham Palace throughout a go to in 1989, after which they welcomed the queen to the White Home for a state dinner in 1991. The Bushes additionally took the royal couple to a baseball recreation — an Orioles-Athletics recreation at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
BILL CLINTON
Invoice Clinton first met the queen in 1994, at a ceremony commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of World Warfare II’s D-Day. He and his spouse, Hillary Clinton, stayed in a single day on her royal yacht Britannia.
The Clintons made different journeys to the UK throughout his eight years in workplace, however turned down a proposal to have tea with the queen at Buckingham Palace in 1997 as a result of, based on British authorities memos obtained by CNN, the president wished to “be a vacationer” and go to a backyard and a few outlets. The Clintons and their daughter, Chelsea, did wind up having tea with the queen on the palace shortly earlier than he left workplace, in December 2000.
GEORGE W. BUSH
As his father had finished 16 years earlier, George W. Bush hosted the queen for a state dinner in 2007.
“The American individuals are proud to welcome Your Majesty again to the US, a nation you’ve come to know very effectively. In any case, you’ve dined with ten U.S. presidents,” he mentioned in welcoming remarks on the White Home. “You helped our nation rejoice its bicentennial in 17- in 1976,” Bush mentioned, correcting himself as he spoke. He then paused and appeared on the queen earlier than telling the assembled crowd, “She gave me a glance that solely a mom might give a toddler.”
BARACK OBAMA
Barack and Michelle Obama first met the queen throughout a go to in 2009, the place the primary woman was accused of breaching protocol by putting her hand on the queen’s again as they walked.
In her ebook “Changing into,” Michelle Obama mentioned she came upon later that she “was committing what could be deemed an epic fake pas,” however the queen appeared “okay with it, too, as a result of after I touched her, she solely pulled nearer, resting a gloved hand flippantly on the small of my again.”
DONALD TRUMP
Donald and Melania Trump have been invited to have tea with the queen in 2018 at Windsor Fort. Through the occasion, the president breached protocol by briefly strolling in entrance of her as they have been inspecting her honor guard.
However, the Trumps have been invited again for a state dinner at Buckingham Palace the next yr. “There are people who say they’ve by no means seen the queen have a greater time, a extra animated time,” Trump advised Fox Information afterward.
JOE BIDEN
The queen welcomed Joe and Jill Biden to Windsor Fort final June. They have been greeted with an official guard of honor army parade on the citadel, positioned about 30 miles exterior of London, earlier than going inside for tea. The president mentioned afterward that the queen had been “very gracious” and “I don’t assume she’ll be insulted, however she jogged my memory of my mom.”
