U.S. President George W. Bush and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smile together during remarks at an arrival ceremony on the south lawn of the White House in honour of the Queen's visit to Washington yesterday. - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters):

President George W.Bush, no stranger to the occasional verbal misstep, nearly placed Queen Elizabeth II in the 18th century yesterday in welcoming her to the White House on a state visit.

Britain's queen and Prince Philip were treated to a formal arrival ceremony on the White House south lawn, complete with a marching fife-and-drum corps.

Trumpets heralded the arrival of the dignitaries. The U.S. Air Force band played national anthems before 7,000 invited guests on a sunny spring day.

Both Bush and the queen addressed the crowd as the royal family approached the end of a six-day U.S. visit that included ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the British settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, and the Kentucky Derby.

Long history

Bush noted the queen's long history of dealing with successive American governments, just barely stopping himself before dating her to 1776, the year the 13 British colonies declared their independence from Britain.

Elizabeth has occupied the British throne for 55 years and is 81.

"The American people are proud to welcome your majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. After all, you've dined with 10 U.S. presidents. You've helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 - in 1976," Bush said.