Queen Elizabeth II met 13 sitting U.S. presidents over her lifetime, from Harry S. Truman to Joe Biden, during visits in Washington, D.C., and the United Kingdom. Notably, she never encountered Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president, who served from 1963 to 1969.
Two Health-Related Missed Opportunities
Author David Charter explains in his book Royal Audience: 70 Years, 13 Presidents — One Queen’s Special Relationship with America that their paths failed to cross partly by accident and partly due to a tense political climate.
The first chance arose after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963. The Queen, pregnant with her fourth child, Prince Edward, followed doctors’ advice and stayed home instead of attending the funeral in Washington. Her husband, Prince Philip, represented her there, where Johnson had just become president.
A second opportunity emerged at Winston Churchill’s state funeral in Britain in January 1965, attended by over 100 world leaders. Johnson, fresh from his inauguration and weakened by illness after prolonged exposure to cold weather, received medical orders not to travel to the even chillier London.
“Had it not been for those two medical reasons, they would certainly have met,” Charter notes.
Johnson’s Limited European Travel
Johnson rarely visited Europe during his presidency, prioritizing allies supporting efforts in Vietnam. He made only two brief trips overall. While British Prime Minister Harold Wilson sought strong ties and visited the White House multiple times, relations strained as the U.K. declined to commit troops.
“The longer his presidency went on, the more it was overtaken by events in Vietnam,” Charter observes.
Princess Margaret’s White House Visit
Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, filled the gap with a successful White House visit in November 1965. President Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson hosted a lively event amid Vietnam challenges.
“Lady Bird Johnson was overjoyed that they could throw a big party, despite all the doom and gloom in Vietnam,” Charter recounts. “A good time was had by all.” Contrary to depictions in the TV series The Crown, no cheeky kiss occurred, though they bonded well.
Queen Elizabeth’s Enduring U.S. Ties
Before ascending the throne, then-Princess Elizabeth met President Truman in 1951 at Blair House during White House renovations. Her final U.S. state visit came in 2007 for Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, hosted by President George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
Joe Biden became the last sitting president to meet her, visiting Windsor Castle with Jill Biden over a year before her passing.
During Donald Trump’s 2019 state visit, the Queen hosted a banquet and remarked: “Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship.”
Charter attributes the Queen’s exceptional rapport with presidents to her iconic status and engaging personality. She drew on vast knowledge from meeting global leaders, offering discreet insights that advanced U.K. interests without leaks.
“Private conversations with the Queen remained absolutely private,” he emphasizes. “She was really a wealth of information for all manner of leaders.”
