Three Americans recall their visits with Queen Elizabeth

The seven official US visits that Queen Elizabeth II made during her reign were tightly controlled and choreographed down to the smallest detail, giving few ordinary Americans a chance to interact with her. Yet on every tour, the monarch managed to make a powerful impression on those she encountered. Here, three of those people reminisce about their brushes with royalty.

2010 stop at 9/11 Memorial, Manhattan

Paula Grant Berry was one of thirteen jurors who selected the design for the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan. Her husband, financial analyst David Berry, was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center.

My boys and I were privileged to meet Queen Elizabeth when she came to commemorate the 9/11 Memorial construction site in 2010.

We were a small group of family members. Most remarkable was her capacity to engage in our loss, one-on-one, in meaningful and substantive conversation.

“She really seemed to care about us and about our experience,” my son Nile, then 17, said at the time. “She asked us what we went through and what happened, and what we learned from it and how we got through it. And I think that she understood, you know?”

I had told my boys, over and over, that 9/11 was a global event, and that it had affected the entire world. Nine years after the fact, I didn’t know to what degree that had filtered in.

But having the Queen of England actually come and visit with them was an extraordinary moment. It reinforced what I’d been trying to say to them all their lives. Her presence and her desire to meet us drove home how significant the event was to the world.

2007 visit to Jamestown, Virginia

Fred Scholpp is a historical interpreter in Jamestown Settlement’s re-created 1610-14 fort, where he’s worked for nearly 40 years. Among his specialties is interpreting 17th-century armor.

When I met the Queen, we were modeling our interpretive methods – teaching history using hands-on and questioning strategies. I had given a young visitor an opportunity to handle reproduction armor when I thought that I should offer it to the Queen, but she declined.

I mentioned that it was a reproduction, knowing that she had the real thing, but that didn’t phase her. When she realized that I had made it, her demeanor changed and she showed great interest and proclaimed it – “Right good!”

She wasn’t necessarily interested in the object but took a great interest that it was my work. I was quite charmed. It was clearly the pinnacle of my career.

1991 stay in Washington, DC

Benedicte Valentiner was the General Manager of Blair House, the official US guest house in Washington, DC,  for four presidents. She is the author of “Bedtime and Other Stories from The President’s Guest House.”

During the May 1991 state visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the White House of President George H.W. Bush, they stayed four days at Blair House, which I managed for more than 13 years.

I was surprised that the Queen was much younger looking than in her photos, with beautiful and flawless skin; throughout the visit, she was dressed charmingly in lovely colors and prints. The Duke of Edinburgh, less imposing, shorter, and much older looking than expected, after arrival, wandered around, hands clasped behind him, inspecting the drawing rooms, turning off lights, and muttering: “What a waste.”  

During a strenuous schedule in sweltering, hot, and humid weather I often found the Queen quietly waiting in the Front Hall for her next event. I recall how she seemed to rest in herself, totally detached, but exuding confidence and most of all calm.

Returning after their engagements they always headed for our hospitality table in the Blair Dining Room. Once the Queen, to the delight of my staff, exclaimed: “This is the only place in North America where I can get a bloody good cup of coffee.”

I made 64 flower arrangements, but my large bowl of sweet peas placed in the Queen’s bedroom was removed. “We have no flowers ever in the bedroom,” her dresser said.

Her deputy private secretary gave me the following instructions: “The Queen does not eat shellfish; Prince Philip likes to fish for breakfast; they like afternoon tea: Earl Grey with milk (Chef’s tomato and cheese tea sandwiches became her favorite); they like a dry martini; the Queen also likes a two parts Dubonnet and one part Gin mixed with lemon and ice; no teabags at any time. Never address The Queen or Prince Philip – wait for them to address you. Never touch them.”

Her delegation was fun and appreciative. I was told that being with us was like being “in the lap of luxury” and that Buckingham Palace was rather a “cabbage and potatoes” sort of place.

I shall always wonder how Queen Elizabeth could separate the person from the institution of the monarchy, and how anyone so selflessly could have worked so hard in the interest of her realm.