George Bush marked the first day of his whistle-stop tour of Britain with lunch with the Queen. The President of the United States, his wife Laura and their daughter Barbara – a last-minute addition to the UK visit – rolled up to Buckingham Palace in their 16-vehicle motorcade on the dot of 1pm.
While Barbara’s parents had the honour of dining with the monarch, Prince Philip and their second son, the Duke of York, in the 1844 Room, the 19-year-old university student was entertained in the slightly less grand surroundings of the Billiard Room by Vice-Admiral Tom Blackburn, the Master of the Household.
Both parties feasted on the same delicacies, however. Starting with Terrine de Trois Saumons, the diners moved on to Selle d’Agneau Rôti with mushrooms, carrots, potatoes and mange tout; and finished off the splendid lunch with Framboises St Georges. The three courses were washed down with three exquisite wines: Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Leflaive 1994; Château Léoville-Barton, St Julien 1988, with a 1960 Royal Vintage port to end the meal.
Although this is the President's first official visit to Britain, it is not the first time that he and the Queen have met. Nine years ago she asked him if he was the “black sheep” of the family when she made an official visit to the States. Since then, George W. has followed his father into politics and right the way into the White House.
After lunch, it was on to the main business of the trip – a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers to discuss the special relationship between the two nations.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
