Las Vegas NowHarry Reid Passes on White-Tie Affair With British Queen

Harry Reid Passes on White-Tie Affair With British Queen

The U.S. and Great Britain looked like old friends Monday. The queen of England is in Washington, D.C. A state dinner is set to take place but one person will be missing. Nevada senator Harry Reid decided to not accept his invitation, but many others will be there.

It was a day of high pomp and pageantry and the weather sparkled. The kind of day one would expect to welcome a queen. On the south lawn of the White House, 7,000 invited guests wore their best hats and best smiles for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

"It is a moment to take stock of our present friendship, rights taking pleasure from its strengths while never taking these for granted," said Queen Elizabeth II.

And in his brief remarks, the president drew a roar from the crowd -- after putting his foot in his mouth. "You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 (pause) in 1976."

The president's humor came to the rescue. "The queen just gave me a look that only a mother could give a child," he said.

Later, there was an impromptu walk outside the gates of the White House, meeting dozens of school children. It's not often they get to meet a queen and a president.

The royal couple spent the afternoon attending a garden party, hosted by the British ambassador at his residence. Meanwhile Mrs. Bush, the hostess of this evening's white-tie dinner, took the media on a tour of the state dining room.

One hundred thirty of Washington's A-list, will dine on gold trimmed ivory china with gilded silver candelabras. A presidential ending to a truly royal day.

Monday night's dinner will be the fifth state dinner in the six years of the Bush administration, but this will be the fanciest of them all. This one will be white tie, and it's the only one that has been in Bush's entire presidency.