Posted on 05/08/2007 5:52:54 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
When you've just made it sound like the Queen is more than 200 years old, there may be a few ways of recovering from the gaffe.
But turning to her and giving her a sly wink is probably not included in any book of royal etiquette.
Is he winking at One? The President turns to the Queen and winks after his slip-up
The Queen received the wink with a frosty glare
That's what happened yesterday after George Bush mangled his greeting to the Queen on her state visit to the U.S.
Stumbling over his words, he came perilously close to suggesting that the monarch had toured the States in 1776.
And although the President's following wink was initially rewarded with a regal glare, the Queen did at least seem to see the funny side of the blunder.
After the blunder the President paused and turned to the Queen to acknowledge his gaffe, joking that she "gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."
Ripples of laughter echoed around those gathered at the event and the President laughed off the mistake and continued his speech.
The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh flew into the American capital for a two-day stay - the finale of their East Coast trip the other side of the Atlantic.
They were officially welcomed by Mr Bush and his wife Laura on the lawn of the White House in front of 7,000 guests, from members of Congress to Oval Office staff.
The Queen will deliver a keynote speech before heading to a garden party at the British ambassador's residence with Hollywood A-listers expected to be among the 750 guests.
In the evening, Mr Bush will don his white tie and tails for the state dinner as he and the First Lady pull out all the stops to entertain the royals.
It is the first white-tie affair of the Bush administration.
But The New York Times has been pondering: "How does George W Bush, a towel-snapping Texan who puts his feet on the coffee table, drinks water straight from the bottle and was once caught on tape talking with food in his mouth, prepare for a state dinner with the Queen?
"With tips from an etiquette guide, of course - and a little gentle prodding from his wife."
Mr Bush is the leader who once greeted Prime Minister Tony Blair with: "Yo, Blair. How are you doing?"
The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen, Laura and George Bush listen to speeches at the white-tie event
It is hoped that gaffe-prone President Bush will manage to host the state visit without any hiccups.
He hasn't been so successful in the past, however. He once admitted to the Queen he was the black sheep of his family and then turned to her and asked "Who's yours?"
The encounter came at the White House in 1991 when his father was in power. The Queen, wisely, did not reply.
Barbara Bush stepped in and warned the monarch: "Don't answer that."
President Bush is known for his Texan drawl and informal approach and the Queen's visit to Washington is the ultimate test of his manners and grasp of royal etiquette.
USA Today remarked today: "The Yanks will endeavour to impress the Brits, the true sultans of ceremony."
The Queen and President George Bush share a toast
The paper added: "Bush is famous for his opposition to formality and staying up late, but he is nevertheless going all out for the Queen."
White House aides have apparently described the dinner in the Queen's honour as the social event of the entire Bush presidency.
George Bush's father, George Bush Snr, branded it "the hottest ticket in town."
The Times remarked: "It will be closely watched by the social elite for its collision of cultures - Texas swagger meets British prim.
"Dinner attire is white tie and tails, the first and, perhaps, only white-tie affair of the Bush administration.
"The president was said to be none too keen on that, but bowed to a higher power, his wife."
Mr Bush apparently likes to be in bed by 10pm, but the entertainment will stretch well into the evening.
The Bushes have hosted four other state dinners - for Mexico, Poland, the Philippines and Kenya - but never opted for the white-tie dress code before.
The Queen is ushered to a waiting car after arriving in Washington today
The star entertainment is being kept under wraps. During the Reagan years, Frank Sinatra sang for the Queen in 1983 on her trip to California.
The Queen danced with President Ford in 1976, but it is not known whether she will take to the floor with Mr Bush.
Vice President Dick Cheney, secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, defence secretary Robert Gates and General Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, will be among the select 134 guests.
Mrs Bush will be wearing an Oscar da La Renta gown and her staff have co-ordinated with the Queen's dresser to make sure their outfits do not clash, the Washington Post reports.
Mrs Bush knows the importance of pre-planning her wardrobe. Last year, three women showed up at a reception she was at in the same red de la Renta dress she was wearing, forcing her to rush off to change.
At the banquet, Mr Bush will sit next to the Queen at Table 12, while Mrs Bush will join Philip at Table 11.
The monarch's dislike of spicy foods has been taken into consideration for the menu, personally selected by Mrs Bush.
The royal visit to DC is likely to be something of a distraction amid controversy over Mr Bush's veto of Congress's war funding bill which set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from the Gulf.
Washington has also been dealing with the fallout of the "DC Madam" sex scandal which brought the resignation of a top US State Department official who confirmed he had been a client of a woman accused of running a high-class prostitution ring.
The Queen's last visit to the White House was in 1991 in the wake of the first Gulf War when George Bush Snr was in power.
Whether the Queen will mention Iraq in her speech remains to be seen.
The White House lawn was the site of "Podiumgate" 16 years ago.
As the Queen gave an address all that could be seen of her above the podium and microphones was her hat.
Someone forgot to put the small raised platform in place ready for the royal VIP. The next day the Queen quipped as she made another speech: "I do hope you can see me today."
Mickey Rooney kisses the Queen's hand - another faux pas
This time, she will stand on a custom-made step. The Queen praised Mr Bush Snr in 1991 for his "outstanding leadership" in the Gulf conflict and gave reassurances about post-war problems, saying: "great enterprises seldom end with a tidy and satisfactory flourish". She also presented him with the Churchill award.
It is not known if the current President Bush will get an award this time. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman refused to comment.
‘Over two hundred years ago we told your “royalty” to FO. We still do!’
You wouldn’t think so watching the coverage on the US news channels. You’re more royalist than we are these days! ;-)
This is nothing compared to Nixon’s; “the last time you were here you burned the place down” comment.
Bonus points for anyone who can identify a recent scifi series in which a female character says:
“I bet I can get her to way ‘we are not amused’”
I suspect the future President made an effort to do so consciously. Unlike his predecessor and the former First Lady, President Bush does not turn on or turn off an accent. What you hear is what you get, whether he is dealing with the Queen of England, the press corps, or anyone else.
“I bet I can get her to way ‘we are not amused’”
Hey, Rose got her to say it at the end.
“It also ensures our head of state is never a Democrat! ;-)”
Who is waiting in the wings again?
Great line by Nixon.
‘Yeah you guys were really free with king henry the 8th and other assorted curmudgeons throughout the years.’
Yes we were and are. The Magna Carta in 1215 first enshrined the rights of an Englishman to live free from interference by the govt. It took another 550 years for another country to give those same rights to it’s people.
‘The US constitution is still the best expression of human freedom and democracy on the planet and always will be.’
Well it’s bound to be - it was based directly on the Magna Carta and was written by Britons. . . . . ;-)
Bush is an oaf and he will be an oaf in white tie and tails too.
‘We can be allies, but I see no need for us to bow to your queen.’
Neither do I and neither does Her Majesty. It is not required or expected that you bow to her any more than I must do so to your president.
It is quite possible that she was giving a parody of her frosty image in response to his inside joke-type wink.
way or say....
Battlestar galactica?
‘Bite me. Because I don’t bow down to no man, woman or critter, I’m stupid. Freek you fool. Kiss mine.’
I didn’t say that were stupid because you ‘bow down to no man’, I inferred your stupidity from your rabid prose style which revealed obvious anger issues and your tenuous grasp on history. . . . . .
Um, being the Queen? Part of a legacy of a government that has been around for 800 years? When the government of these US gets to 800 years, get back to me. Course by then the United Kingdom will have been around for 1400 years
Fancy parties, lavish food, designer gowns. Maybe it’s fun, but it should not be a reason to worship and stand in awe of any of these people.
Has nothing to do with parties, food, or gowns (well maybe the parties and food a bit). The Queen is Great Britain. She is the nation. When you look at the royal monarch you're recognizing 800 years of history. You're glimpsing the Magna Carta, Agincourt, Hastings. The rise of the language with which we're conversing. A nation that had to deal with the Roundheads but still brought the monarchy back. That stood up to Napoleon and by doing so created two of the most well known names in the latter half of the second millenium. It's a respect for history.
You look at politicians and there's just politics. They'll be done and gone in a few years. They'll fade away. Blair is a buffoon and so was Major before him (yeah I know it's been 10 years but there was a government before Labour). Yes they make the laws but there's no history to them. As much as I respect her memory even the Iron Lady doesn't hold a candle to the monarchy, and no not even Churchill.
Do I recognize failings within the monarchy? Of course. Prince Harry may be the most well suited to take over between the three successors but I know he will not. I recognize Charles' mistakes and William's gaffes but when they wear that crown they are more than the men they were, they will be England. You cannot say that about a President, a Senator, or Representative.
I am a North Carolinian first and foremost but as a student of history, I see something that once was great and still is in its own fashion. But I also recognize that while this nation is indeed powerful, it will never reach the standard set by those that came before it. Sure we have our songs, our own pomp and circumstance, but nothing like that. When you hear God Save the Queen or Rule Brittania being played and know that they've been played for close to 300 years. You can feel the history in the buildings, standing in the same place of the Tower that Sir Walter Raleigh once stood or walking into Wren's St Paul's and the reverence the building still has (compared to the crowds at Westminster). The quietness standing at Nelson's tomb.
That is what I see when I see the Queen. Sorry for the rant
What rank in life have you risen to?
Bush has a sense of humor and can laugh at himself. I tire of people who take themselves seriously and get p*ssed off when others don’t take them as serously as they do themselves.
‘Who is waiting in the wings again?’
William of course, you don’t think Her Majesty would allow Charlie do you? ;-)
You need to read the whole story — it’s pretty funny.
It happened when she was on a state visit to the U.S. while the President’s father was in office. W and the Queen got into a fairly delightful discussion about the boots he was wearing, and she asked him good-naturedly if he was the black sheep of his family. Barbara B. interrupted the conversation just as it was getting interesting.
The Queen is not as stuffy as she appears in public.
Two different photographers - or a fast one - wouldn’t change the placement of the President and the Queen relative to each other.
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