King Charles III’s trip to the United States this week is evoking memories of past royal visits, from King George VI’s first journey across the Atlantic in 1939 to the many trips made by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.
George’s visit was the first by any British monarch to the U.S. He and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, arrived on a U.S. destroyer in lower Manhattan on June 10, 1939. Their car, with then-New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia riding in the front seat, drove up Manhattan’s West Side, with eager crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of the king and queen.
British royals have since visited the states dozens of times. Princess Elizabeth’s first trip came in 1951, when she met with President Harry Truman, filling the shoes of her sick father at the time. Her first trip as queen was in 1957, meeting with President Dwight Eisenhower. Queen Elizabeth II made several visits with presidents over the years. She was said to have been good friends with President George H.W. Bush, who welcomed her to the White House in 1991 for her first visit in 16 years.
A footstool mishap led to what became known as the “talking hat” speech, since her face could barely be seen behind the microphones. She referenced the moment later during that trip to open her address to Congress. “I do hope you can see me today from where you are,” she joked.
A lifelong fan of horse racing, Elizabeth attended the Kentucky Derby in 2007. Her last visit to the states was in 2010, when she placed a wreath at the former site of the World Trade Center.
A story on royals in the states would be incomplete without mention of Princess Diana, who famously danced with John Travolta at the Reagan White House in 1985. Her last visit occurred in 1997, just two months before her death, when she met with Mother Teresa at a convent in the Bronx, New York.
The current Prince and Princess of Wales — William and Catherine — made their first trip to North America after their wedding in 2011, when they stopped in Los Angeles.
Even though he’s visited many times as prince, this week will mark Charles’ first visit as king, nearly 87 years after his grandparents.
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