EMBASSY BANQUET IN WASHINGTON

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 11

EMBASSY BANQUET IN WASHINGTON

Glittering Function For The Queen’s Hosts (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 19. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who have been White House guests during their four-day Washington visit which will end today, gave a glittering State banquet for the President and Mrs Eisenhower at the British Embassy tonight. The Queen has spent a casual, carefree afternoon visiting a crowded Washington supermarket and a rousing college football game. Yesterday afternoon, the Queen visited the National Gallery of Art and a children’s hospital. The Duke of Edinburgh, after being presented with the National Geographic Society gold medal by President Eisenhower, went to the National Academy of Sciences.

The Duke spent nearly two hours with leading United States scientists concerned with the International Geophysical Year. Among them was Dr. John Hagen, the scientist in charge of United States plans for launching an earth satellite to circle the globe like the Soviet sputnik. Dr. Joseph Kaplan, chairman of the United States national committee for the International Geophysical Year, later told reporters that the Soviet satellite had not been mentioned. The Duke had not asked questions about the progress of the United States satellite launching plans in relation to the Soviet Union’s achievement. The Queen and Duke returned to the White House and later went to the Capitol, the home of Congress, for a luncheon in their honour. Embassy Visit The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh drove from the White House to the British Embassy today to receive Commonwealth heads of missions and diplomatic staffs. The Queen and the Duke mingled with hundreds of wives and children among the 2200 guests. They spoke to 10 children drawn from each of the Commonwealth missions to form a guard ot honour. They included Sarah Marks, of Australia, and Jillian Pountney, of New Zealand. Later the Duke completed his

inspection of the United States Marine Corps barracks in Washington. The Prince wore the uniform of Captain General of the Royal Marines. After inspecting the marine guard of honour of 200 men he was entertained at the commandant’s home.

At the State dinner tonight, the band of the Canadian Black Watch played for the assembly of more than 80 guests, including Vice-President and Mrs Richard Nixon, Chief Justice Earl Warren, members of the Cabinet and Commonwealth Ambassadors. They ate lobster and veal stuffed with truffles from the famous Wedgwood Coronation service in white and gold which matched the floral decorations of white and gold chrysanthemums, Irish bells and eucalyptus. Surprise Visit The Queen surprised Washington housewives today when she stopped at a supermarket with week-end shopping at its height for 15 minutes. She and the Duke of Edinburgh strolled around the different counters, talking to salesgirls, mothers with babies, and several men with shopping lists

The visit was unscheduled and unannounced. The Queen decided this morning she would like to see a supermarket. The decision to call was made on the way back to the White House from the football match.

Shoppers were speechless as the Royal procesion—the Queen in the President’s limousine flying her standard and the President’s flag, preceded by motor-cycle policemen, drew up at the main entrance to the market in suburban Washington.