President Bush welcomed the Queen to Washington yesterday with full White House ceremonial, a speech of warm praise, his first five-course, white-tie state dinner — and, being Mr Bush, an unfortunate slip of the tongue.

Standing with the Queen on a podium, he recalled her previous state visits, but had a little problem with the dates.

“You helped us celebrate our bicentennial in 1796,” he said confidently, and in a split second realised his error. “Er, 1976”, he corrected himself, to a gale of laughter from around the lawn. The Queen, smiling broadly, gave him a knowing sideways glance.

To another outburst of hilarity from the crowd he told her: “You gave me a look only a mother could give a child.”

At least he didn’t greet her with: “Yo, Majesty, how ya doin’?”

The White House was dressed with British and US flags as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in a black limousine with smoked windows. George and Laura Bush shook hands warmly with the royal couple but there was no curtsy from the First Lady, only a nod of the head.

The two heads of state stood together for the national anthems and a 21-gun salute, Mr Bush stiffly at attention for ours and with his hand on his heart for his own. They inspected a large honour guard which included the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and the US Coast Guard. President and monarch chatted amiably as they paced the lawn.

President Bush sounded almost misty-eyed as he spoke of how Britain had written many of the chapters in the history of human freedom, from Magna Carta to philosophers such as John Locke. “Our two nations hold fundamental values in common, including the rights and dignity of the individual,” Mr Bush intoned. Then he cut to the chase, describing how the two countries were advancing the causes of liberty, and fighting tyranny and oppression, whether in London, New York, Kabul or Baghdad. “Our work remains the surest path to peace,” he said.

The Queen was more circumspect in her reply: “A state visit . . . is the time to look forward, jointly renewing our commitment to a more prosperous, safer and freer world.”

A driving force behind the state visit has been Laura Bush who insisted that, just for once, her husband stay up beyond his 9pm bedtime. With Amy Zantzinger, her recently appointed social secretary, Cristeta Comerford, the White House executive chef, and Bill Yosses, the resident pastry chef, she drew up plans for a five-course dinner in the state dining room. The Bushes’ four previous state dinners for the presidents of Mexico, Poland, Kenya and the Philippines were mere four-course, black-tie occasions.

The New York Times wondered how Mr Bush had been persuaded to stay up until 10.15. “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.”

At the state dinner last night Mr Bush was seated between the Queen and Nancy Reagan. Among other top-table guests were George Shultz, the late President Reagan’s Secretary of State; the tenor Plácido Domingo’s wife Marta, herself an opera director and retired singer; and the golfer Arnold Palmer. Another guest, although farther across the room, was Calvin Borel, the winning jockey in the Kentucky Derby, which the Queen saw on Saturday.

Bush tucker

Robin Roberts, of ABC’s Good Morning America, interviewing Laura Bush:

The White House is taking on an air of royalty this morning, as the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, arrive. Mrs Bush, I know it’s a busy, busy, busy day for you . . . Did you sleep well last night?

Mrs Bush We’re all very, very excited here. We slept great, but we’re very excited to host Her Majesty.

RR And you were in her home in 2003.

Mrs Bush That’s right. We got to actually stay at Buckingham Palace.

RR Was that the last time that the President was in a white tie and tails?

Mrs Bush I think that was probably the last time, and I don’t know how thrilled he was about this – but, of course, when you’re hosting the Queen of England, of course you want to have it be white tie. He was a very good sport. (Laughter)

RR We understand that you and also Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had to kind of convince him.

Mrs Bush We did sort of have to convince him. All of our guests, I’m sure, are having to go rent white tie – obviously not the British delegation, but the Americans.

RR And you have been very hands-on. I’ve looked at the menu – we begin with pea soup.

Mrs Bush I think it’s going to be a really wonderful soup. It's a fresh pea soup, and it has a little hint of lavender in it. We're doing a fish course, too. So this is a formal dinner with that many courses, and then the dessert, of course, will be not only delicious, but beautiful. Our pastry chef is going to do really beautiful sugar roses. The entertainment is Itzhak Perlman, the famous violinist. The Marine band, will play. And then – and this is always such a thrill – as we’re eating dessert, the Strolling Strings will come in to the dining room. And the Army Chorus will sing at the very end of the evening.

RR And you have a beautiful gown.

Mrs Bush That's right, I have a very beautiful gown by Oscar de la Renta. It's a long aqua gown with some embroidery on it, with a bolero over it. I think it will be pretty, I hope.

RR We’re showing it so no one else will wear it.

Mrs Bush Yes, exactly. (Laughter)

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