The Blairs’ hearts sank when they learnt that George Bush’s victory over Al Gore in 2000 had been ratified and that he was to become President of the United States, Cherie Blair reveals in The Times today.

She tells how she and her husband watched Mr Bush on television and were concerned at his poor grasp of foreign affairs, but Mr Blair was determined to have a strong relationship with the Republican President.

Although they had initial reservations about his political leanings she and her husband learnt to appreciate “a very funny, charming man with a quirky sense of humour”.

Mrs Blair describes Mr Bush’s tendency to “talk Texan” – a trait that he himself has blamed for his bad press – but goes farther, comparing him with Bill Clinton, who is also from the South. She says: “Clinton may talk Southern, [but] he doesn’t think Southern, whereas Bush thinks Texan.”

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In her autobiography, Speaking for Myself, serialised this week in The Times, Mrs Blair recalls that her first reaction on hearing about Bill Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky was: “Oh Bill, how could you?” and that he had been “bloody stupid”.

The Blairs met the Clintons only a few weeks after the story broke. Mrs Blair writes: “If I had been impressed by Hillary before, I was doubly impressed by her now. Dignity is not the word. I could see for myself how angry she was with him. Not just for humiliating her, but for jeopardising their joint project, and I could also see how desperately he was trying to win back her approval.”

She credits the Clintons’ daughter, Chelsea, with keeping the couple together afterwards.

Mrs Blair discussed the scandal with Mrs Clinton. “In her view, the way the right wing relentlessly pursued it was all part of a wider attempt by their enemies to discredit Bill. The most important aspect, she said, was not to let it undermine the presidency. So on a political, strategic level that was the line they took, that this had been politically motivated and stirred up by those who wanted to undermine the Democratic presidency. On a personal level, however, there is no doubt that she was furious and hurt, and rightly.”

Mrs Blair also reveals her affection for the Royal Family in an account of a dinner in 2005 on the day that London won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The Queen thought that it was marvellous news and the Duke of Edinburgh said: “Of course, I’m so old I won’t be here then.”

Mrs Blair says: “Oh, sir, please don’t say that. I certainly hope you will.” She adds in her memoirs: “And I did. I was actually quite fond of the old boy.”

“Well, one needs to be realistic,’ added the Queen. “It’ll be for Charles and the boys, not for us.”

Mrs Blair writes: “I found the idea that the Queen might not be there quite upsetting.”

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