For some weeks now, the British embassy in Washington and the royal household in London have been honing and fine-tuning plans for the King’s state visit to America, even at a time when the prospect of the visit happening at all was somewhat in doubt.
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer are seemingly at loggerheads, the US leader angry at his counterpart’s reluctance to involve Britain in the war in Iran. Trump went so far as to declare that Starmer was “not Winston Churchill” – not that even Starmer’s most ardent supporters had ever made such an exaggerated claim.
Some politicians suggested that the King should not go to the US at all, and of course, there was the underlying concern about how much strain such a visit might place on his health. Now the palace says he will go in “late April” – which still sounds a little vague.
It is important that the King visit America. This is the 250th anniversary of independence, and an appearance by the most senior member of the British royal family ticks every box so far as diplomacy, reconciliation, and the strengthening and reaffirmation of the special relationship are concerned.
At a low point in Anglo-American relations, there is no one better than the King to pour oil on troubled waters. He would appear to be one of the few people in Britain for whom President Trump has unconditional respect.
Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech during her 1976 visit, standing next to the then US president Gerald Ford (AFP/Getty)
And there is a good precedent. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the United States at the height of the bicentennial celebrations. Independence Day is on 4 July. They were in America between 6 and 11 July 1976, specifically to celebrate the friendship that had developed during the 200 years since the American Revolution.
As ever, the Queen was wholly positive in her approach. She was particularly pleased to have been invited during the main week of the celebrations, because, as she said at the state banquet, “Nobody can say that what happened on 4 July 1776 was not very much a unilateral affair between us.”
In advance of that visit, a columnist made a point that has validity today:
“The Queen has in the past shown her power to mend the ruptures that afflict the most natural of all alliances, and in the intense excitement over royalty which Americans can display even after six months of celebrating their release from the rule of monarchy, the best possible opportunity awaits her.”
It was also pointed out in the British press that the president, Gerald Ford, who had succeeded Richard Nixon rather suddenly in 1974, was aware that a state visit from Her Majesty could “do his fragile political prospects nothing but good”.
Elizabeth and Philip flew to Bermuda, and embarked on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. From there,the monarch sent Ford a message of “warm good wishes” for the happiness and prosperity of the United States on the anniversary. She brought a large entourage with her, which included the foreign secretary, at that time Anthony Crosland, a Labour minister.
Her late Majesty was the first British monarch to visit Philadelphia as a reigning sovereign. The Britannia arrived at Penn’s Landing, where she visited the Liberty Bell and presented the Bicentennial Bell, a gift from Britain.
Speaking as a direct descendant of George III, Elizabeth was conciliatory in her speech. She said that the founding fathers had taught Britain a valuable lesson. Britain had lost the American colonies because “we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep”. She paid America a huge compliment in saying that this was a precursor to transforming the British empire into the Commonwealth, though admittedly that had happened nearly two centuries later.
Queen Elizabeth II’s visit received rave reviews in the American press, and Dr Kissinger, no less, described the monarch as ‘a very interesting lady with a lot of savvy’
Naturally she stressed Anglo-American friendship, and before pressing a button to ring the new bell, she said: “Let freedom ring: it is a message in which both our peoples can join and which I hope will be heard around the world for centuries to come.”
There were tens of thousands out and about to greet Elizabeth. There were some protesters, but rightly, she ignored them. Next, the royal couple went to Washington from 7 to 8 July, as guests of the president and the first lady. In one of her speeches that day, the Queen said: “America holds a special place in British hearts and affections, and so it will ever be.” There was a state banquet in the Rose Garden. Guests included the film stars Cary Grant and Greer Garson. The Queen and President Ford both spoke.
There was entertainment by Bob Hope and Telly Savalas (Kojak). Bob Hope had them all laughing merrily after the excellent California wine. In a reference to the recent political scandals in Washington, he quipped: “Priests are having a terrible time. Nobody goes to confession. They go straight to The Washington Post.”
Let freedom ring: Queen Elizabeth II is met by cheering Americans upon arriving in Philadelphia for the bicentennial (PA)
He then sang a version of “Thanks for the Memory”: “This dazzling affair/ This gracious royal pair/ Their presence on our birthday/ Brought joy beyond compare.”
He sang on, highlighting The Beatles and Benjamin Britten, the BBC and four o’clock tea. The dinner greatly overran the schedule, but nobody minded. Musicians wandered around, while finger bowls with floating rose geranium leaves were circulated.
As mentioned, the late Queen’s foreign secretary was a Labour MP. His presence caused the kind of diplomatic incident that would hardly raise an eyebrow in 2026. He may have been useful behind the scenes, chatting to Henry Kissinger, but his impact was most noticed when he made a trivial protest and refused to wear white tie like everyone else at President Ford’s state banquet.
He wore a black tie – like the waiters. Funnily enough, he had been prepared to wear white tie, but having worn black tie at the banquet in London for President Giscard d’Estaing of France earlier in the summer, this would have been considered a diplomatic snub.
Queen Elizabeth II’s visit received rave reviews in the American press, and Dr Kissinger, no less, described the monarch as “a very interesting lady with a lot of savvy”. She went on to New York, and received a ticker-tape welcome, arriving there in Britannia. In her speech, she referred to “the magical and audacious skyline of Manhattan”. The next day, she and Philip visited Thomas Jefferson’s estate in Monticello, considered an architectural masterpiece.
(Hodder & Stoughton)
And on the last day, 11 July, they were in Boston, visiting the Old North Church and the Old State House, where the revolution had gathered momentum. This had a good moment that I even remember seeing on the television at the time. Behind the Queen sat Sir Martin Charteris, her private secretary. As she delivered her speech, he could be seen clapping and slapping his knee, at a speech that he himself had written.
Her visit ended with a return state banquet for the president and his wife, Betty Ford, in Britannia off Newport, Rhode Island. If the King can spread even a small part of the same magic as his mother, he will have served Britain well.
Hugo Vickers’ biography ‘Queen Elizabeth II – A Personal History’ is published by Hodder & Stoughton on 9 April