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Queen sees historic US settlement | Queen sees historic US settlement |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited the site of the US's first permanent English settlement, to mark its 400th anniversary. | |
The royal couple, accompanied by Vice-President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne, visited an archaeological dig and museum at Jamestown, Virginia. | |
The Queen, who is making her first US visit for 16 years, also visited Jamestown 50 years ago. | |
She arrived on Thursday for what is a six-day East Coast tour. | |
On Friday, the Queen and the Duke visited the Jamestown Fort, which is a reconstruction of the building built by English settlers. | |
They also saw the remains of the actual fort and was given a tour of the archaeological site where thousands or artefacts have been found. | |
"James Towne" was established on 14 May 1607 by settlers who had set sail from Britain in three ships in search of gold and other metals. | |
Half a century has done nothing to diminish the respect and affection this country holds for you Dick CheneyUS vice-president Jamestown rediscovered Queen's visit in pictures | |
Mr Cheney noted the Queen's last visit to Jamestown for the 350th anniversary of its founding. | |
"Half a century has done nothing to diminish the respect and affection this country holds for you," he said in a welcoming speech. | |
"We receive you again today in that same spirit." | |
Organisers of the anniversary are said to have banned the word "celebrations" in favour of commemoration. | Organisers of the anniversary are said to have banned the word "celebrations" in favour of commemoration. |
'Sad history' | 'Sad history' |
Jamie Ware-Jondrau, one of the native Americans taking part in the ceremony, said Jamestown's was a sad history. | |
"It's not a celebration. It's a commemoration to remember all of the native people who have lost lives," she said. | "It's not a celebration. It's a commemoration to remember all of the native people who have lost lives," she said. |
"It's very sad but I don't stay stuck on sad. How would you feel if a generation of your people was almost annihilated? | |
"You can't change history, it was ugly and native people died. But today is a new day." | |
The Queen's programme of events is aimed at forging bonds between Britain and the US and focusing on their shared future. | |
But there have been calls for the Queen to apologise for the introduction of slavery and the slaughter of American Indians. | |
In a speech to Virginia's general assembly on Thursday she talked of how the bonds between the US and the UK were far stronger than any "temporary differences of opinion". | |
"Friendship is a complex concept," she said. | "Friendship is a complex concept," she said. |
The Queen also extended her sympathies to the students and families and friends of the 32 people killed by a gunman at Virginia tech college in April. | |
"On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom I extend my deepest sympathies at this time of such grief and sorrow," she said. | "On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom I extend my deepest sympathies at this time of such grief and sorrow," she said. |
The state visit's finale will be two days in Washington DC, where the Queen will be entertained by President Bush, visit a Nasa space centre and meet some GI brides. | |
It is the fourth state visit to the US by the Queen and the Duke, following tours in 1957, 1976, for the US Bicentennial, and 1991. |