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Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

The Queen and US Presidents: From dancing with Gerald Ford to watching baseball with George Bush

There were 14 American presidents in power during the Queen's 70-year reign - and she met them all except one.

Lyndon B Johnson, who took office in 1963 following John F Kennedy's assassination, never crossed paths with the Queen during his just over five years in power.

The monarch played a pivotal role over the decades in the UK's relationship with the leaders of one of its closest allies. She went riding with Ronald Reagan, developed a warm friendship with the Obamas and shared "automatic chemistry" with Donald Trump, according to Trump himself.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said the Queen was "more than a monarch" and that she "defined an era".

In a statement, Joe and Jill said: "In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her.

"An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.

"She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection - whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her platinum jubilee on their phones. She, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service."

Harry S. Truman

Queen Elizabeth II and the then US President Harry Truman (PA)

When King George VI was on the throne the Queen went to America to visit the US President when she was still a Princess.

The Queen was accompanied by her husband Prince Phillip on the trip in October 1951. Harry S Truman was still in the Oval Office when she acceded to the throne.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Queen with US president Dwight D Eisenhower (Getty Images)

In 1957, the Queen headed stateside for her first trip to the United States since her coronation following her father's death in 1952.

Dwight D. Eisenhower put on a state banquet for Her Majesty. At the dinner the US president wore a British Order of Merit that had been awarded to him by King George VI.

John F. Kennedy

During his first year in office President Kennedy travelled to the United Kingdom in 1961. He was accompanied on the trip by the first lady Jacqueline Kennedy who also attended a banquet at Buckingham Palace.

On his return to the United States the President sent the Queen a birthday message.

Following JFK's death in 1963 Lyndon B. Johnson took over, however the Queen never met him during his time in power.

Richard Nixon

The Queen meeting US President Richard Nixon (Press Association)

In October 1970, Richard Nixon travelled to the United Kingdom to meet the then Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath.

During the visit the Queen met Nixon at Chequers, the Prime Minister's weekend country home.

Gerald Ford

The Queen dancing with Gerald Ford at a ball in the White House (Getty Images)

The Queen headed to Washington DC to meet Republican president Gerald Ford at the White House in 1976. The United States was celebrating its 200th birthday and to mark the occasion the president put on a state dinner for the Queen.

At the dinner the Queen danced with the US President.

Jimmy Carter

The Queen with Jimmy Carter at a state dinner in Buckingham Palace (PA)

In 1977, Democrat president Jimmy Carter headed to the United Kingdom for an official visit.

During his trip he met then Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan at Downing Street and attended a banquet at Buckingham Palace which was put on by the Queen.

The banquet came following a meeting between the Summit of Seven (now the G7) in London. Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan were also present at the dinner.

Ronald Reagan

The Queen went horse riding with US President Ronald Reagen (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

The Queen met Republican president Ronald Reagan on a number of occasions, however the most famous by far is the time the pair went horse riding around her Windsor estate.

Reagan headed to the UK following a G7 summit in France where they rode horses the Queen was given by the Canadian Mounted Police.

George H. W. Bush

The Queen at a baseball game in Baltimore (AFP via Getty Images)

The Queen made a third state visit to the United States with a 10-day trip in May 1991. George H. W. Bush travelled around part of the country with Her Majesty with them taking in a baseball game in Baltimore.

She also became the first British monarch to step on Texan soil.

When Bush died in 2018, the Queen released a statement saying: "Prince Philip and I remember our days in Texas in 1991 with great fondness. My thoughts and prayers are with President Bush’s family and the American people."

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton meeting the Queen in 2000 at Buckingham Palace (PA)

Towards the end of his time in power Bill Clinton headed to the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland for a three-day tour in 2000. The Queen invited the Democrat president to tea at Buckingham Palace.

The president was accompanied by his wife Hilary and daughter Chelsea on the trip.

George W. Bush

The Queen with George W. Bush back in 2007 (AFP/Getty Images)

In 2007, the Queen headed to the United States again for her fourth state visit and 16 years after meeting George W. Bush's father in the White House.

The president and first lady Laura Bush held a dinner for Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Barack Obama

President Barack Obama and Michelle with the Queen (Getty Images)

The Queen put on a state dinner for Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at Buckingham Palace in 2011, two years after she met the pair for the first time.

Obama met the Queen during a visit to the UK in 2009 while he attended the G20 summit in London.

During his 2011 visit Obama presented the monarch with an album of photos and memorabilia which documented her trip to the US in 1939 when she was a teenager.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump met the Queen twice while he was president (Getty Images)

Donald Trump and his wife Melania embarked on a four-day visit of the UK in 2018. During the trip the US President met the Queen at Windsor Castle when he walked in front of her while inspecting the a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards.

To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day the US President visited the UK again in 2019. He met the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Joe Biden

The Queen met US President Joe Biden when he visited the United Kingdom in June 2021 (Getty Images)

While on a visit to the UK in June 2021 for the G7 summit in Cornwall Joe Biden met the Queen at Windsor Castle with his wife Jill.

The visit included a Guard of Honour and tea at the monarch's residence. The President praised the Queen's generosity and said she reminded him of his mother.

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