Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II had the last laugh over United States President George Bush on Tuesday a day after the gaffe-prone Bush nearly put her age at well over 200 years.
Concluding a six-day state visit to the United States, the queen hosted a return banquet for Bush and his wife Laura at the British embassy and, as she rose to give her toast, a mischievous grin came over her face.
”Mr President, I wondered whether I should start this toast saying, ‘When I was here in 1776’,” the 81-year-old monarch said to huge laughs from the A-list dinner guests.
When his turn came, Bush replied: ”Your Majesty, I can’t top that one.”
The latest Bush-ism had come on Monday during a ceremonial welcome for the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, outside the White House ahead of a lavish state banquet.
Bush said Elizabeth had visited the United States ”in 17 — in 1976” to mark the 200th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence from Britain. He then winked at the queen and joked: ”She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child.”
In Britain, scornful newspapers labelled Bush ”Dumb Dubya” and said he has a ”gift for the gaffe”.
At the British embassy, the queen and Prince Philip reciprocated the White House dinner with a menu that included wild Scottish smoked salmon, roast rib of veal, stacked carrots and Dauphinoise potatoes.
Aside from British ambassador David Manning and top Bush administration officials, the guests included Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton. The New York senator’s husband, former president Bill Clinton, was not present.
The queen wore a gold lace cocktail dress and a Brazilian aquamarine and diamond necklace with matching earrings. Laura Bush wore a navy silk embroidered cocktail dress designed for her by Oscar de la Renta.
The men wore black-tie tuxedos, in contrast to the white-tie and tails affair at the White House on Monday — the most formal yet of the six-year Bush presidency. – Sapa-AFP