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Skriven 2007-05-04 23:31:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0705048) for Fri, 2007 May 4
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Fact Sheet: The State Visit in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of
Great Britain and His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
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For Immediate Release Office of the First Lady May 4, 2007

Fact Sheet: The State Visit in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of
Great Britain and His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh


ÿÿÿÿÿ Welcoming Queen Elizabeth II

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are honored to host Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and His Royal Highness The
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on Monday, May 7, 2007.

The United States has no closer ally and friend than Great Britain. Our
nations share an exceptionally close relationship based on deep historical
and cultural ties, a common language, shared values and interests, and a
commitment to defend freedom around the world.

This visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and His Royal
Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is an occasion to celebrate
these enduring bonds.

President Bush and the First Lady visited England in November 2003 and
welcome the opportunity to return that hospitality, which, as the Queen
noted at that time, has been extended to seven of the President's
predecessors.

The Arrival Ceremony

The Arrival Ceremony for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will take
place on May 7, 2007 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Approximately 7,000 guests will attend the Arrival Ceremony, including the
American and British delegations, British Embassy staff, State Dinner
guests, Members of Congress, Cabinet Members, White House staff and their
guests, State Department staff, and students.

The White House arrival ceremony includes the following:
  þ Arrival of the motorcade carrying Her Majesty and His Royal Highness
  þ A greeting of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness by the President and
    Mrs. Bush on the south side of the driveway outside the Diplomatic Room
    entrance
  þ Her Majesty and His Royal Highness greet the United States Welcoming
    Committee
  þ The President and Her Majesty proceed to the reviewing platform
  þ The ceremony begins with the National Anthem of Great Britain
    (simultaneous 21 gun salute) and then the National Anthem of the United
    States
  þ The President and the Queen review the troops on the lawn
  þ President Bush and Her Majesty observe the musical troop in review
    performed by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
  þ President Bush and Her Majesty make remarks
  þ The President and Her Majesty face the Troops and the Commander of the
    Troops indicates that the ceremony has concluded
  þ President Bush, Mrs. Bush, Her Majesty, and His Royal Highness proceed
    to the Blue Room Balcony for a photo opportunity

Guests of the State Dinner

The dinner will take place in the State Dining Room on the State Floor of
the White House, following a reception in the East Room on the State Floor.
One hundred thirty-four guests will be seated in the State Dining Room. A
diverse representation of guests from across the country will attend the
State Dinner. An American and a British delegation will represent their
respective countries at the State Dinner. The Vice President and Mrs.
Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary and Mrs. Gates, and General and Mrs. Pace
are among the American delegation.

A member of the Bush Administration will serve as the table host at each of
the thirteen tables. Members of the British delegation will be seated
throughout the State Dining Room. Traditionally, couples are seated at
different tables.

Attire for the State Dinner

In honor of the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and His
Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh the attire for the
State Dinner is white tie. This is the first white tie event that the
President and Mrs. Bush have hosted.

Other previous White House white tie events include:
  þ Clinton Administration
      þ June 1994, Japan State Dinner
      þ December 1999, New Year's Eve
      þ February 2000, Spain State Dinner
  þ Reagan Administration
      þ 1981 Inaugural Balls

Preparation for the Dinner

Mrs. Bush planned the dinner menu with her Social Secretary Amy Zantzinger
and Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford to prepare the dinner menu.
Chef Comerford has worked in the White House kitchen since 1995 and was
named Executive Chef in August, 2005.

Mrs. Bush also coordinated with Social Secretary Amy Zantzinger and Bill
Yosses, the White House Executive Pastry Chef responsible for creating the
dessert. Chef Yosses was named Executive Pastry Chef in January 2007.

The menu will include five courses: Appetizer/Soup, Fish, Meat, Salad and
Dessert.

The Room Setting

The table settings will be appropriately appointed with historically
significant pieces, including:
  þ Cream Damask tablecloths with beige strié to cover the thirteen tables.
  þ Each table will be adorned with the Clinton China, which is ivory with
    a gold rim, and features a vignette of the White House; the Vermeil
    Flatware; the President's House crystal pattern; and alternating
    candelabras and containers from the Vermeil collection.
  þ Pieces from the >Vermeil_ (French term for gilded silver) collection
    are 18th and 19th century English
  þ The >Vermeil_ collection has been used throughout the White House for
    almost fifty years and was received in 1957 as a bequest from Mrs.
    Margaret Thompson Biddle, heiress to a Montana mining fortune.

White House Coordination with the Office of Protocol

As with every State visit, the White House coordinates with the Office of
Protocol, which resides at the Department of State. Ray Martinez serves as
the Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States. There is always tight
coordination between the Office of Protocol and White House entities,
including the First Lady's Office, the White House Military Office, and the
National Security Counsel. The Office of Protocol also ensures specific
information is provided in preparation for State visits hosted by the
President and Mrs. Bush, such as the proper way to address foreign
dignitaries and visitors, dietary restrictions, and overall logistical
movements.

Official Visits Hosted by President and Mrs. Bush

The President and Mrs. Bush have hosted eight Official visits during the
Administration. An official visits includes a visit from a Head of
Government or a Prime Minister with a formal White House Arrival Ceremony.
Previous visits hosted by the President and Mrs. Bush are:
  þ Mexico _ September 5, 2001
  þ Republic of Poland _ July 17, 2002
  þ Republic of Philippines _ May 19, 2003
  þ Republic of Kenya _ October 6, 2003
  þ People's Republic of China _ December 9, 2003
  þ Republic of India _ July 18, 2005
  þ Australia _ May 16, 2006
  þ Japan _ June 29, 2006

State Dinners Hosted by President and Mrs. Bush

The State Dinner for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness
The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the fifth of the Bush
Administration. Four of the eight official visits also included State
Dinners:
  þ Mexico State Dinner _ September 5, 2001
  þ Republic of Poland State Dinner _ July 17, 2002
  þ Republic of Philippines State Dinner _ May 19, 2003
  þ Republic of Kenya State Dinner _ October 6, 2003

The Schedule of the Her Majesty's Visit to America
  þ Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will visit the United States from
    May 3 _ 8, 2007. The Queen and Duke will visit Virginia (Richmond,
    Williamsburg and Jamestown) on May 3 _ 4, 2007, to mark the 400th
    Anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. Separately in Virginia, the
    Duke will visit Norfolk.
  þ On May 5, 2007, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will visit Kentucky
    to attend the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby. The royal couple
    will then visit Washington, D.C. on May 7 and 8, 2007, where they will
    be hosted by President and Mrs. Bush, including at a State Dinner at
    the White House.
  þ Her Majesty and Mrs. Bush will visit the Children's National Medical
    Center in Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2007, as well.
  þ The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will then host a Return Dinner for the
    President and Mrs. Bush at the Embassy of Britain on May 8, 2007.

Previous Visits to United States

This is Her Majesty's first visit to the United States in 16 years.
Previous visits include the following:
  þ President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Bush, State Dinner, on May 14, 1991
  þ President and Mrs. Reagan, California, March, 1983
  þ President and Mrs. Ford, State Dinner, July, 1976
  þ President and Mrs. Eisenhower, State Dinner, October, 1957

For this visit, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and His
Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will stay at the
President's guest house, the Blair House.

In addition to the 2003 visit to England, the President and Mrs. Bush met
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness in 1991, during the White House State
Dinner hosted by the then President George H. W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara
Bush.

Mrs. Bush's Chief of Staff

Anita McBride serves as Assistant to President George W. Bush and Chief of
Staff to First Lady Laura Bush. As Chief of Staff, she oversees the First
Lady's policy, press, correspondence, scheduling and advance,
speechwriting, and social offices. Her White House service spans two
decades and three administrations (George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan).

The Social Secretary

The Social Secretary is Amy Zantzinger. Mrs. Zantzinger is Special
Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary. She was named
to this position in January 2007 and most recently owned an exclusive
national interior design firm with design services for both residential and
commercial clients throughout the United States. Previously, Zantzinger
worked with then President George H. W. Bush in the White House as well as
for the Bush family for both of George H. W. Bush's campaigns.

The Chief Usher

Admiral Steve Rochon is the eighth Chief Usher of the White House. With 36
years in public service, Admiral Rochon has an extensive background in
personnel management, strategic planning, and effective interagency
coordination. The Chief Usher is responsible for activities that occur in
the Executive Residence and on the grounds, including the Arrival Ceremony
and the set up of stages and continues through the evening for the Dinner.

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