Today (Thursday), Queen Elizabeth is to arrive in Richmond, Virginia 50 years after her first state visit to commemorate the founding of Jamestown and,
…celebrate the exploration of new frontiers — to push the boundaries of our worlds and knowledge. A common spirit from the settlers of 1607 to the astronauts of 2007.
What does it take to host a monarch?
The right look . . . The right greeting . . . The right tone and atmosphere . . . It’s all such an obsession that the U.S. State Department has appointed someone to work with [Amy] Bridge, [director of the Governor's Mansion] on royal protocol. Buckingham Palace flew in about 15 others — including the queen’s personal assistant and Buckingham Palace’s deputy master of the household — for consultations. Washington Post
What tea do you serve? Lipton’s? Or something British? No offense to the Queen, but I’d be inclined to let her bring her own tea bag or serve coffee. We have to retain some semblance of dignity as we fawn over a figurehead with almost no real power as if she were, well, the Queen or something.
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine even has a section of his website dedicated to proper etiquette before the Queen. I’m glad to note that US citizens are not required to bow or curtsy and the little reminder there that we don’t recognize the Queen as our Head of Nation (at least that much is taught in school, right?). I do wonder at the last point under dress, however:
Where black tie and long evening dress are called for, cocktail dress, national dress and dark lounge suit are also acceptable.
Does that mean that jeans, a T-shirt and baseball cap are perfectly acceptable since it is the closest thing to a national dress we have?
And who is this person we are getting so worked up over?
No one knows, much about her, really,…except that bit portrayed in The Queen, and who needs to know the reality when you have what is said to be a great movie to refer to? This leaves the Queen a somewhat enigmatic character whom we can color as we please. Her position and her character are merely symbolic of a nation.
“The queen not only stands apart from the hurlyburly of adversarial day-to-day politics but also stands apart from the hurlyburly and bed hopping and generally bad behavior of her immediate descendents,” says [author Will] Self. “She represents a kind of transcendence of the next two generations of her own family which curiously chimes in with the kind of the attitude that the British have about the breakdown of their own family life. She becomes a kind of head of a dysfunctional family that is kind of enduring, if you like, a kind of ‘Tony Soprano of the monarchy’ in that way.” CBS News
A symbol of aloofness at the breakdown of the family. What an inspiring model for the world.
I, for one, am glad we are no longer part of this charade. Or perhaps I have to second that motion since Below the Beltway appears to have beaten me to it.
For more on the founding of Jamestown on May 14, 1607, try Virtual Jamestown, where you will find maps, primary source documents and other information about the founding of Jamestown. Never used primary source documents with young children? Try here for some ideas.
Are any of you planning any special lessons in conjunction with this visit or the founding of Jamestown? I’d love to see your plans! Here is a little of what we did earlier this year.
Related Tags: homeschooling, Queen Elizabeth, Jamestown
Principled Discovery is a place to stop and discuss news and information related to faith, family and particularly education. Pour yourself a cup of tea and join the conversation! 
Hi Dana-
We are planning a big celebration this summer to coordinate with the 4th of July. I am thinking maybe a timeline from Jamestown to the signing of the declaration would be good - and we will also use this as an opportunity to look closer at the Indian tribes of America and their different forms of government. Beyond that I have not finished planning. We already touched on Jamestown earlier this year by reading This Dear Bought Land by Latham- an excellent read! I just knew though that we really needed to celebrate this memorial rather than just study it - so this summer it is. I am glad to share my written up plans when they are finished if you are interested. I enjoyed your daughters and your samplers! Great idea! I have been drooling over the book you mentioned, Jamestown Narratives, as well as all the other books and resources Vision Forum has on Jamestown - for a while they were offering them all as a specially priced package - I don’t know if they still are or not - of course I had already just placed a large purchase through CBD just before I found out! ) :
Oh I almost forgot - I have not yet told you congrats on the new little one - what a precious little “Peanut” ! ( :
Mandi, that would be great!
And lest anyone think I’m too critical, I would be honored to meet the Queen. I just think all the activity surrounding the visit a bit humorous.
I’d be honored to meet the Queen, too, but I agree with your observations! Yeah, so what is our “national dress” - that had me stumped. I doubt everyone who attends the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, which the Queen will be attending, will be wearing suits and evening gowns. But that would be fun to see - maybe the Queen will clean up the race track.
See, here is what I think. It is our birthday party. It is about us, not her.
I liked the little comment in one of the articles about how her spokespeople remain anonymous because they should not rise above whom they are speaking for.
The guest shouldn’t rise above the occasion, should she? : )
I don’t think I would serve coffee or tea. I would go all American and serve Coca cola or more likely, iced tea - or sweet tea as it is called in the south! Thanks for mentioning the founding of Jamestown. We’ll have to do something special.
We saw the Queen leave Buckingham Palace when we were in London this week. She travelled in a Dark Green SUV with a black limo. As they left - they lowered the flag, because when she is home the British flag flies above the palace.
As for what I’d serve her.. something inherently American.. like a burger and fries.. LOL
That’s cool.
I told my husband that his native countrymen in Australia should change their national anthem to Walzing Matilda just because it would be so frightfully amusing to play it for the Queen at state events.
I think I’m too ornery for my own good.