Bush winks and makes the Queen 200 years older!

Instead of the general public, it should have been US President George W Bush who should have been given a few extra lessons in the proper etiquette required while meeting Queen Elizabeth II, for he goofed up by not only suggesting the British monarch was more that 200 years old, but also by winking at her - all that in front of 7,000 guests, from members of Congress to Oval Office staff.

London, May 8 : Instead of the general public, it should have been US President George W Bush who should have been given a few extra lessons in the proper etiquette required while meeting Queen Elizabeth II, for he goofed up by not only suggesting the British monarch was more that 200 years old, but also by winking at her - all that in front of 7,000 guests, from members of Congress to Oval Office staff.

Gaffe No 1 happened when the 'leader of the free world' welcomed the Queen to Washington with full White House ceremonial, and a speech full of praise.

While the President didn't forget to shower praise on Elizabeth II, he did manage to forget the last time the Queen visited the US.

"You helped us celebrate our bicentennial in 1796...Er, 1976", the Daily Mail quoted President Bush, as saying.

The British monarch however saved the day when, smiling broadly, she saw the funny side of the Bush's blunder.

And though the President really should have been a bit more careful about what he was doing, unfortunately for him, he didn't.

Gaffe No 2 happened, when turning to the Queen during the welcoming ceremony, he winked at her. This time around, however, she was less than impressed, giving him a frosty glare.

And though President Bush and his wife Laura are really laying out the red carpet for the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh - with five course white tie and tails state dinner - people are still wondering how Bush, famous for his dislike of formality, will pull it off.

The question apparently also dogged the New York Times, which wrote: "How does George W Bush, a towel-snapping Texan who puts his feet on the coffee table, drinks water straight from the bottle and was once caught on tape talking with food in his mouth, prepare for a state dinner with the Queen? With tips from an etiquette guide, of course - and a little gentle prodding from his wife."

ANI