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Queen meets veterans on US trip Queen teases Bush over date gaffe
(about 3 hours later)
The Queen has rounded off her six-day visit to the US by paying tribute to American war veterans. The Queen has made a joke about President George Bush's gaffe in which he nearly aged her by 200 years.
She and Prince Philip visited the World War II National Memorial, in Washington DC, where they met GI brides who left the UK for a new start in America. In a speech at a dinner in the US, she said: "Mr President I wondered whether I should start this toast saying I was here in 1776 but I don't think I will."
The Royal couple were joined by former US president George Bush senior and his wife Barbara. She was referring to the president's slip-up over the date of a previous visit to the US by the Queen in 1976.
Earlier, they visited a Nasa space centre on the final day of their state tour of the eastern US. The monarch thanked the US for helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland, as she completed her six-day state visit.
They met staff and toured mission control at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, just outside Washington. She was addressing a dinner at the British ambassador's residence on the final day of her US tour.
The crew of the International Space Station spoke directly to the Queen from space via video link and thanked her for her interest in the project. Mr Bush slipped up earlier in the week as he welcomed the Queen to the US when he began to say that her last previous visit to the US during the country's bicentenary had been in 1776.
Realising his mistake he winked at the monarch, saying: "She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."
The Queen's comment at the dinner raised laughter from the guests.
Peace process
On a more serious note she went on to thank Mr Bush and his predecessors for their contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.
Route map of the Queen's carbon-offset state visitRoute map of the Queen's carbon-offset state visit
Later, the Queen, met war veterans and women who left Britain more than 60 years ago to start married life in America. She said: "I would like to take the opportunity on the day that has seen the formal transfer of power to the devolved Northern Ireland government, to thank you and your predecessors for your contribution to bringing peace in Northern Ireland."
Helen Morris, one of the GI brides, said after meeting the monarch: "She asked me my name and then said what a lovely day it was." President Bush said the transfer of power in Northern Ireland showed democracy had the power to unite a divided state.
"I have been reading the etiquette rules so I knew not to ask her any questions." "The people of Northern Ireland took control of their future when Catholics and Protestants came together to form a new government that offers the prospect of peace and reconciliation after years of violence and division."
Windsor meeting Earlier the Queen and Prince Philip visited the World War II National Memorial, in Washington DC, and Nasa space centre.
Mrs Morris, 82, fell in love with her late husband Glen after meeting him while she was sat outside a bench outside Windsor Castle in Berkshire. At the memorial they were joined by former US president George Bush senior and his wife Barbara.
"These two Americans came up and wanted to know if they could tour the castle. The Queen and Prince Philip together placed a wreath in memory of fallen servicemen.
"I told them to go into the grounds. The castle was closed in the war. My friend and I showed them around."
"He found out where I lived and he knocked at the door. My mother said `There's someone at the door in American uniform'. He came to see me every other day."
The Queen and Prince Philip, a Pacific veteran who was in Tokyo harbour when Japan surrendered, together placed a wreath in memory of fallen servicemen.
The tour of the eastern US has included visits to the famous Kentucky Derby horse race and the site of the first permanent English settlement in the US - Jamestown in Virginia - to mark its 400th anniversary.The tour of the eastern US has included visits to the famous Kentucky Derby horse race and the site of the first permanent English settlement in the US - Jamestown in Virginia - to mark its 400th anniversary.
On Monday, the Queen met President George W Bush at the White House, where she attended a state banquet at which she praised the special relationship between the US and UK. The Queen's carbon footprint will be calculated and offset for the first time for a state visit.
Buckingham Palace will make a donation to an environmental charity to offset the plane journeys made by the Royal couple and their entourage.
THE QUEEN'S FIRST CARBON-OFFSET STATE VISIT Total air miles - 13,317 km or 8,275 milesAmount of CO2 emitted based on scheduled flights - 1. 5 tonnesEstimated offset cost per person - £13.20 to £14.18 ($26.22-$28.17) depending on type of offset packageTHE QUEEN'S FIRST CARBON-OFFSET STATE VISIT Total air miles - 13,317 km or 8,275 milesAmount of CO2 emitted based on scheduled flights - 1. 5 tonnesEstimated offset cost per person - £13.20 to £14.18 ($26.22-$28.17) depending on type of offset package
Source: The Carbon Neutral Company carbon calculatorSource: The Carbon Neutral Company carbon calculator
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