Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Entertainment
By Steve Holland

Queen Elizabeth's reign featured enchiladas with Reagan, dancing with Ford

FILE PHOTO: President Gerald Ford and Queen Elizabeth dance during a state dinner in honor of the Queen and Prince Philip at the White House in Washington, July 7, 1976. Ricardo Thomas/Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

The last American president to see Queen Elizabeth, Joe Biden, sat down with her over tea at Windsor Castle in June 2021, where they chatted about Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

"I don't think she'd be insulted, but she reminded me of my mother," a visibly delighted Biden told reporters later.

FILE PHOTO: President Ronald Reagan rides horses with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle near London, June 8, 1982. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

All told, the queen met 13 of the last 14 American presidents, all except Lyndon Johnson. She started with Harry Truman in 1951 when she was still a princess. Through all of them, her goal was to maintain strong relations with the United States, remembering how important the alliance was in World War Two.

"Administrations in your country, and governments in mine, may come and go. But talk we will, listen we have to, disagree from time to time we may, but united we must always remain," she said in a toast at the state dinner that President George W. Bush held for her at the White House in 2007.

The queen had long talks with Ronald Reagan, some on horseback, and ate enchiladas at his California ranch. She went to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game with George H.W. Bush. She sent Dwight Eisenhower a recipe for scones after he raved about those at Balmoral Castle.

FILE PHOTO: Before she became queen, then-Princess Elizabeth (left) joined President Harry Truman in the chief executive's limousine for her ride to Blair House after arriving at Military Air Transport Service Terminal in Washington, October 31, 1951. Arthur Marasco/United States Army Signal Corps/Harry S. Truman Library and Museum/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Things did not always go smoothly. When no one lowered the microphone for her remarks in 1991 on the White House South Lawn during the elder Bush's presidency, her face was obscured by the microphone and her remarks became known as "the talking hat speech."

“I do hope you can see me today from where you are," she later said in a speech to a joint session of Congress.

Dancing with Gerald Ford in 1976, the band struck up the tune, "The Lady is a Tramp."

FILE PHOTO: President George W. Bush visits with Queen Elizabeth at the St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle June 15, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File Photo

During that same visit, Ford and his wife, Betty Ford, were taking the queen up the elevator to the Yellow Oval Room. The elevator door opened and there stood the Fords' son, Jack.

Jack had his dress shirt undone and was holding his studs, Betty Ford recalled later to the Washington Post. He quickly disappeared.

"The queen said, 'Oh think nothing of it. I have one of those at home,'" Betty Ford said.

FILE PHOTO: Queen Elizabeth and President Barack Obama toast during a state banquet in Buckingham Palace in London May 24, 2011. REUTERS/Lewis Whyld/PA Wire/Pool/File Photo

Reviewing an honor guard of troops at Buckingham Palace in 2018, the queen suddenly found that Donald Trump had stepped in front of her, breaching royal etiquette and prompting her to change course to get around him.

Characteristically, the queen waved her white gloved hand to indicate they should move forward, and kept on going.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Heather Timmons and Lisa Shumaker)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.