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Upon her arrival, Queen Elizabeth was greeted by by Sergeant at Arms to the Senate Martha S. Pope and Sergeant at Arms to the House of Representatives Jack Russ (right).
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From left to right, U.S. House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel, Prince Philip, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tom Foley, Queen Elizabeth II, Senate Majority Leader George J Mitchell, Senator Robert C. Byrd, and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
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Queen Elizabeth waved to the gathered crowd and press.
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Inside Congress, she received a standing ovation as she walked to the podium.
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Prince Philip followed closely behind her.
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For the speech, she wore an orange dress, matching hat, a set of pearls, pearl earrings, and an ornate brooch.
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The Queen also wore white gloves, carried a white handbag, and finished her outfit with white heels.
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There was frequent applause during Queen Elizabeth’s 15-minute address.
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During her remarks, she joked, “I do hope you can see me today from where you are,” referencing the welcoming ceremony at the White House, when only her hat was visible behind a podium.
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Seated behind the Queen were U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle (left) and Speaker of the House Representatives Tom Foley (right).
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“The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh do have a regal and polished bearing from a lifetime of role playing. I was surprised by how short (and wide) she is and how tall he is,” Ray Smock wrote in the Journal of the House Historian, in an entry dated May 24, 1991. “The Duke sat in a chair on the Speaker’s dais to the left and behind the Queen. Behind him in his usual prominent spot was the Clerk of the House Donn Anderson, who simply loves all this pomp and circumstance. I could tell that he was thoroughly enjoying this setting. My only exposure to the Queen was during the joint meeting. I was in the chamber in my usual spot [standing near the portrait of George Washington] and watched the proceedings. The chamber was packed, but not overly crowded the way it was for Nelson Mandela or Lech Walesa. The Doorkeeper was a little more nervous than usual because he wanted to get their introduction just right. Even the wily old veteran Molloy seemed taken by the opportunity to introduce the Queen, for the first appearance of a British monarch before the U.S. Congress. It was a historic moment, if only a symbolic one.”
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Prince Philip followed his wife as they walked out of Congress.
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Watch the full address here, on C-SPAN.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.
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