Bush welcomes British queen to White House

Bush welcomed Britain's Queen with a grand ceremony and 21-gun salute. The welcome ceremony took place at the south lawn of the White House. This was the first visit to the United States by the British queen in 16 years. U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and First Lady Laura Bush (2nd L) greet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (2nd R) and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the North Portico of the White House for a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and First Lady Laura Bush (C) greet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at the North Portico of the White House for a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Related: Queen Elizabeth II visits Jamestown Settlement     WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua)-- Visiting British Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, accompanied by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, took a stroll of Jamestown's tourist village of thatch-roofed buildings Friday to commemorate the settlement's 400th anniversary.     The queen and her husband visited archaeological dig site and living history museum. The couple were greeted by large crowds waited amid tight security to see the queen. British queen begins U.S. tour     WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Ricmond, Virginia Thursday for a six-day visit to mark the 400th anniversary of an English settlement that laid the foundations of American history.     During her stay, Queen Elizabeth II will meet President George W. Bush, tour the site where, 400 years ago, Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in America. She is also expected to address U.S. Congress.  U.S. President George W. Bush (R), First Lady Laura Bush (L) and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II pose for a picture at the Grand Foyer of the White House before a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)   U.S. President George W. Bush (R) walks with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II past a portrait of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman to the Grand Foyer of the White House before a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)   U.S. President George W. Bush (R) walks with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in the Grand Foyer of the White House before a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)     U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and First Lady Laura Bush (2nd L) greet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (2nd R) and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the North Portico of the White House for a State Dinner in Washington, May 7, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)       WASHINGTON, May 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush welcomed Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to the White House on Monday with a grand ceremony and 21-gun salute.     The welcome ceremony took place at the south lawn of the White House and as many as 7,000 guests, including Bush administration officials, members of Congress and diplomats, attended the ceremony.     On Monday evening, Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will host a state dinner in the queen's honor.     "The United States has no closer ally and friend than Great Britain," the White House said in a statement, adding that the two countries share "an exceptionally close relationship" based on historical and cultural ties, a common language and shared vales and interests.     This was the first visit to the United States by the British queen in 16 years.