Washington, DC., USA, 16th May, 1991 Queen Elizabeth addresses a joint session of congress. Queen Elizabeth II, who made history on Thursday by becoming the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress, opened her remarks by poking fun at herself and ended with a sure-fire crowd-pleaser: ``May God Bless America". She received three ovations and was interrupted by applause several more times during a 15-minute diminutive queen, began with a reference to the fact that only the brim of her purple and white hat was visible to television audience Credit: Mark Reinstein
Washington, DC. 5-16-1991 Queen Elizabeth addresses a joint session of congress. Queen Elizabeth II, who made history on Thursday by becoming the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress, opened her remarks by poking fun at herself and ended with a sure-fire crowd-pleaser: ``May God Bless America.`` She received three ovations and was interrupted by applause several more times during a 15-minute speech. The diminutive queen, who will spend 10 hours in Miami today, began with a reference to the fact that only the brim of her purple and white hat was visible to television audiences the previous day during the White House welcoming ceremony because her face was hidden by microphones. I do hope you can see me today from where you are,`` she said in a clipped accent, drawing a roar of laughter and standing applause for her self- deprecating humor. The queen, attired in a peach hat and dress for her congressional appearance, spoke from the same raised podium that American presidents use for addressing members of the House and Senate. Her husband, Prince Philip, sat by her side. While she began on a humorous note, her speech touched on serious themes of self-government and international cooperation, including the experience of the Persian Gulf war, in which British and American soldiers fought together. ``I salute the outstanding leadership of your president, and the courage and prowess of the Armed Forces of the United States,`` she said. ``I know the servicemen and women of Britain, and all the members of the coalition, were proud to act in a just cause alongside their American comrades.`` Her remarks -- which by tradition reflect the views of the presiding government -- acknowledged that the postwar flight of Kurdish refugees fearing Iraqi repression was not what the coalition had in mind when the war began. ``Unfortunately, experience shows that great enterprises seldom end with a tidy and satisfactory flourish,`` she said. ``Together we are doing o
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Location: Great Hall of Congress, US Capitol, Washington, DC., USA,
Photo credit: © mark reinstein / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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