Bush Blunder: One Is Slightly Amused
By Royal Correspondent Sarah Hughes Updated: 18:28, Monday May 07, 2007
The Queen has spoken of the special relationship between the US and Britain as she met President George Bush at the White House.
Mr Bush looks to the Queen while cracking a joke
But it was Mr Bush who had everyone laughing as he blundered his way through his speech - and then bailed his way out with a sharp one-liner.
He gave the wrong date for the American bicentenary.
The crowd began to laugh and the President delivered a quip about the Queen's reaction.
"You helped our nation to celebrate its bicentennial in 17....1976," the leader said.
He paused, turned to the Queen and added: "You gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."
More than 7,000 people were in attendance as the British and American national anthems were played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
The Duke of Edinburgh and First Lady Laura Bush stood by as the monarch and American leader took their places on the small platform, decorated in the red, white and blue colours
The Queen did not directly mention the Iraq war in her speech, but it was clear she was referring to the strains it had put on the relationship.
"A state visit provides us with a brief opportunity to step back from our current preoccupations to reflect on the very essence of our relationship," she said.
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