The First Royal Visit
From June 7th to 12th of 1939 (73 years ago this week), King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth visited the United States at the invitation of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. No reigning British Monarch had ever set foot on American soil up to that point, not even in colonial times. Roosevelt's invitation to the King signified the beginning of a new era in American and British relations.
With Europe poised on the brink of war, Franklin Roosevelt wanted to build closer ties between the two democracies. The forward thinking president believed so strongly in the need for cooperation that he pursued this change in foreign policy at the risk of losing domestic support from the very strong isolationist and anti-British segments of the voting public.
It is said that Roosevelt planned every detail of the visit to ensure the King's success in winning over the sympathy and support of the American people. King George VI's visit to the United States became important in developing a stronger political and social alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain.
Americans heartily welcomed the King and Queen with thunderous applause and adulation when they arrived in Washington on June 8, 1939. Crowds lined the streets for a chance to glimpse the King and Queen as they traveled throughout the city. In Washington, the couple was treated to all the formalities of a State Visit. There was an afternoon reception at the British Embassy, followed by a formal evening of dining and musical entertainment at the White House. On their second day, the King and Queen took in the sights of DC as they boarded the presidential yacht and sailed up the Potomac River to George Washington's Mount Vernon and to Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
After two days in Washington, the tone of the visit transformed from formal to informal as they accompanied the Roosevelts to their home in Hyde Park, New York. In contrast to the formal State Dinner at the White House, dinner at the Roosevelt's Home "Springwood" was described to the press as a casual dinner between the two families; their evening entertainment was simple conversation, unfettered by formalities. Even more relaxing and informal was the following day's event - a picnic. FDR brought the couple to his new hilltop retreat - Top Cottage - on the eastern portion of his estate for an old-fashioned, American-style picnic. Over the objections of FDR's mother Sara Roosevelt, the King and Queen of England were served hot dogs on the front porch of the cottage. The press made a great deal about the hotdogs and the complete menu is reproduced below:
FOR PICNIC AT HYDE PARK
Sunday, June 11, 1939
Virginia Ham
Hot Dogs (if weather permits)
Smoked Turkey
Cranberry Jelly
Green Salad
Rolls
Strawberry Shortcake
Coffee, Beer, Soft Drinks
The royal couple appeared to genuinely enjoy their Hyde Park experience. In a letter to Queen Mary, her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth wrote: "They are such a charming and united family and living so like English people when they come to their country house."
A large crowd gathered at the small Hyde Park train station to wish the royal couple luck as they left for home to a nation on the verge of war. Although the visit appeared to be purely a social affair, interspersed with the pomp and circumstance were serious discussions between the President and the King about the political and military situation in Europe. During this short visit their discussions gave way to policies such as the "destroyers for bases" deal and the decision to provide long-range U.S. Navy patrols in support of the Royal Navy's convoy escort groups.
Roosevelt's real agenda was to change American's perceptions, which in turn allowed him to do more for Britain. When England declared war on Germany three months later, Americans had more sympathy for England's plight. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote to Queen Mary in May of 1941:
Dear Queen Elizabeth:
Ever since England was forced into the war I have wanted to write and tell you how constantly you and the King are in my thoughts.
Since meeting you, I think I can understand a little better what a weight of sorrow and anxiety must be yours.
We can but pray for a just peace and my warm sympathy is with you.
Sincerely yours
Eleanor Roosevelt
With Europe poised on the brink of war, Franklin Roosevelt wanted to build closer ties between the two democracies. The forward thinking president believed so strongly in the need for cooperation that he pursued this change in foreign policy at the risk of losing domestic support from the very strong isolationist and anti-British segments of the voting public.
It is said that Roosevelt planned every detail of the visit to ensure the King's success in winning over the sympathy and support of the American people. King George VI's visit to the United States became important in developing a stronger political and social alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain.
Americans heartily welcomed the King and Queen with thunderous applause and adulation when they arrived in Washington on June 8, 1939. Crowds lined the streets for a chance to glimpse the King and Queen as they traveled throughout the city. In Washington, the couple was treated to all the formalities of a State Visit. There was an afternoon reception at the British Embassy, followed by a formal evening of dining and musical entertainment at the White House. On their second day, the King and Queen took in the sights of DC as they boarded the presidential yacht and sailed up the Potomac River to George Washington's Mount Vernon and to Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
After two days in Washington, the tone of the visit transformed from formal to informal as they accompanied the Roosevelts to their home in Hyde Park, New York. In contrast to the formal State Dinner at the White House, dinner at the Roosevelt's Home "Springwood" was described to the press as a casual dinner between the two families; their evening entertainment was simple conversation, unfettered by formalities. Even more relaxing and informal was the following day's event - a picnic. FDR brought the couple to his new hilltop retreat - Top Cottage - on the eastern portion of his estate for an old-fashioned, American-style picnic. Over the objections of FDR's mother Sara Roosevelt, the King and Queen of England were served hot dogs on the front porch of the cottage. The press made a great deal about the hotdogs and the complete menu is reproduced below:
FOR PICNIC AT HYDE PARK
Sunday, June 11, 1939
Virginia Ham
Hot Dogs (if weather permits)
Smoked Turkey
Cranberry Jelly
Green Salad
Rolls
Strawberry Shortcake
Coffee, Beer, Soft Drinks
The royal couple appeared to genuinely enjoy their Hyde Park experience. In a letter to Queen Mary, her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth wrote: "They are such a charming and united family and living so like English people when they come to their country house."
A large crowd gathered at the small Hyde Park train station to wish the royal couple luck as they left for home to a nation on the verge of war. Although the visit appeared to be purely a social affair, interspersed with the pomp and circumstance were serious discussions between the President and the King about the political and military situation in Europe. During this short visit their discussions gave way to policies such as the "destroyers for bases" deal and the decision to provide long-range U.S. Navy patrols in support of the Royal Navy's convoy escort groups.
Roosevelt's real agenda was to change American's perceptions, which in turn allowed him to do more for Britain. When England declared war on Germany three months later, Americans had more sympathy for England's plight. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote to Queen Mary in May of 1941:
Dear Queen Elizabeth:
Ever since England was forced into the war I have wanted to write and tell you how constantly you and the King are in my thoughts.
Since meeting you, I think I can understand a little better what a weight of sorrow and anxiety must be yours.
We can but pray for a just peace and my warm sympathy is with you.
Sincerely yours
Eleanor Roosevelt