King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visit America (1939)

[Music] this is the government british news presenting the world to the world the waters of niagara thunder between canada and the united states but that is the only frontier barrier between our great dominion and its neighboring republic on this never to be forgotten occasion when our king and queen paid the first state visit to america the friendship of the two peoples was welded even more firmly than before in proof let our american commentator tell you the story of it as he told it to america history is made at the nation's capital their majesties george and elizabeth first reigning british sovereigns to step on u.s soil are met by secretary of state hull who extended the first official greeting to them at the border now the rulers of the world's mightiest empire go to be welcomed by the heads of the world's greatest republic for the occasion his majesty wears the uniform of lord high admiral of the fleet meeting of the president and king first lady and the queen mr roosevelt says welcome at last i greet you the king replies mr president it is indeed a pleasure for her majesty and myself to be here line up for the reception the nation's highest officials are presented headed by vice president and mrs ghana they include the bankheads morganthoughs woodrings and other cabinet members as well as federal dignitaries and it's all quite quite american style the britisher's turn is heralded by curtsy's ambassador lindsay presents the embassy and legation staff to the rulers who are technically here not as the king and queen of england but king and queen of canada and then washington's public hails the king [Music] beginning four busy days the president and the king going car number one and they seem in high good humor as they start the royal round of ceremonials mrs roosevelt and the queen who's partial to a parasol in the 90 degree heat are in car number two both wear blue wool dresses the gift of british and american wool growers processional behind a clattering military escort the cortege swings towards the capital soon historic pennsylvania avenue resounds with cheers at the news the british are coming a mighty array of war tanks now leads the way and a delirious 600 000 line the route from the capital to the white house the king seems to be thoroughly at ease he and the president chat like old friends wonder what they're discussing so earnestly [Music] [Applause] royal reception for the great great great grandson of george iii as he rides with washington's 31st successor over the route british troops took in 1814 to burn the white house the hostility of 125 years ago has become heartwarming friendship [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] international amity with a capital a [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] next to a lighter side of the royal visit the much talked about garden party at the british embassy the social event of social events it's a red letter day for ambassador and lady lindsay and 1400 of america's elect and elite jp morgan's on hand for a spot of tea with the king he's an old friend of the royal family their majesties mingle with grade a delegation from the social register who's who and the congressional directory everybody's in his best bibim tucker and the queen's radiant in a gun of white organza with panels of white lace royalty or no royalty it looks very much like a long sociable and as the folks back on main street say a good time was had by all [Music] so that was the washington welcome later the president's yacht took our king and queen down the potomac river to mount vernon to the tomb of george washington his majesty laid a wreath upon the simple grave of the first president and afterwards with the queen made a tour of the home of the most famous american america's present-day government was honored in the great building of the washington capital where their medicines were accorded another fervent griefing and inside the great building of america's parliament congressman met the king and queen [Music] later the link that was forged between the two nations in battle over 20 years ago was remembered at arlington cemetery when the king laid a wreath upon the tomb of the unknown warrior the soldier from over there who laid down his life in france [Music] the wonderful impression of friendliness made by the king and queen in washington had preceded them to new york and although the actual landing ceremony was unexpectedly simple for manhattan it was the slightly shy official welcome of the greatest city in the new world for welcome visitors from the greatest of the old these pictures were flown across the atlantic and establish a new record in the time between an event in new york and its presentation in britain but a fuller account will appear in later editions of government british news their majesties were met by mayor laguardia [Music] the king and queen drove through new york in front of them in the car were mayor laguardia and new york's governor layman [Music] [Applause] and so they came to the world's fair here again their simplicity and charm conquered the american hearts they have left behind them a better appreciation of the problems of the british empire they have created an understanding of far greater value than any modern pact

Channel: British Pathé

Views: 117,719

Keywords: British, Pathe, Reuters, Archive, Licensing, Gaumont, Graphic, Empire, News, Bulletin, Paramount, Visnews, britishpathe, History, Historical, Newsreel, Vintage, Footage, Old, Films, Video, Videos, Humour, War, Military, Fashion, Funny, Interesting, British Pathé, British Pathe, Pathé, Library, 20th Century

Id: dddhgcLQRVQ

Length: 8min 30sec (510 seconds)

Published: Fri Nov 13 2020