Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is currently engaging in the most low-key state visit imaginable; Her host is one George Bush in the city of Washington.

There are many ironies here. The Queen's own Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is set to depart from office on May 9th; and if the American people had any say in the matter, Her host would likely leave office before that date. Unfortunately, we do not have that option; and so, there's a spectacle in our White House, wherein the arguably most admired world leader has dinner with the most despised.

Bush and his wife, Laura, were waiting on the driveway on a near-perfect spring day as the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, arrived by limousine. The two couples briefly shook hands before moving on to the formal welcome.

A brilliantly blue sky framed the colorful ceremony where red, white and blue bunting was draped over the fencelines on the South Lawn. The United States Air Force Band led a grand military procession onto the lawn.

The Queen is known for Her absolutely impeccable manners; Her Husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, less so. I find myself wondering if the old man will mention to his host that the Duke has a grandson currently on his way to George Bush's war in Iraq. That's the unspoken subtext of this visit. George and Laura Bush, of course, can make no similar claim. The Duke might also mention that he actually served in the Royal Navy, and that his sons did as well; draft-dodging is frowned upon in the House of Windsor. Keep an eye on the Duke; he's worth watching on this occasion.