Embarrassed
At Heathrow Airport, a 300-foot red carpet
stretches out to Air Force One and Mr. Bush strides to a warm but dignified
hand shake from Queen Elizabeth.
They ride in a silver 1934 Bentley Limousine to
the edge of central London where they then board an
open 17th century coach pulled by six magnificent white matching horses. They
ride toward Buckingham Palace, each looking sideways
and waving to the thousands of cheering Britons.
So far everything is going well. Suddenly the
right rear horse lets fly with the most horrendous, earth-rending, eye-smarting
blast of flatulence ever heard in the British Empire and so powerful that it shakes
the coach.
Uncomfortable, but under control, the two
Dignitaries of State do their best to ignore the incident. But, embarrassed,
the Queen decides it's impossible to ignore it. "Mr. President, please
accept my regrets I'm sure you understand that there are some things that not even
a Queen can control."
Ever the Texas gentleman, the President
replies. “Your Majesty, please don't give the matter another thought. You know,
if you hadn't said something. I would have thought it was one of the horses!"