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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Rebecca Russell

Queen was used as 'secret weapon' with US - but only visited 14 different states

The late Queen visited an incredible 120 countries in her lifetime, went on countless official visits and even visited one country a staggering 22 times alone.

Despite not being in the Commonwealth, one place that the monarch travelled to time and time again was the United States where she met 13 out of the last 14 Presidents - with Lyndon B. Johnson as the only exception.

The Queen maintained a strong relationship with the American leaders and made a number of state visits - the last of which was in 2007 - but it may surprise you to learn that she only travelled to 14 out of the 50 States.

The Queen visited the U.S for the final time in 2007 (Tim Graham)

Speaking about the monarch's close relationship with the US, one expert noted: "In almost every instance, the Queen inspired admiration and respect. These are the qualities that underpin her unofficial title as her government's 'secret weapon.'"

Over the years, the late Queen visited just 14 of the 50 States, these being: Virginia, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, Florida, Texas and Kentucky.

Queen Elizabeth met 13 out of 14 Presidents (AFP via Getty Images)

She also made a number of visits over the years to the district of Washington D.C at the invitation of various U.S Presidents.

Her first visit to the US came when she was still Princess Elizabeth in 1951 as she and Prince Philip spent two days in Washington D.C with President Harry Truman.

Princess Elizabeth with President Truman in 1951 (Getty)
The Queen's 14th President was Joe Biden (Getty)

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The Queen then went on a 5-day trip to the US in 1957 where she travelled to New York City, Virginia and Washington, D.C where she was hosted by President Eisenhower.

The monarch's next trip came in 1976 when President Gerald Ford hosted a State Visit at the White House.

Elsewhere on the six-day visit to the East Coast, the Sovereign and the Duke of Edinburgh went to Philadelphia, New York City, Charlottesville, Providence and Boston.

The next time the Queen headed Stateside was in 1983 after President Ronald Reagan invited her to California as a thank you for hosting him at Windsor Castle the year before.

The Queen dancing with President Gerald Ford in 1976 (Getty Images)

It was said the monarch had always wanted to visit the Golden State and certainly made the most of it as she travelled to San Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Sierra Madre, Duarte, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, Stanford, Palo Alto and Yosemite as well as visiting Portland in Oregon and Seattle in Washington.

1991 marked the penultimate state visit as the Queen was invited by President George H.W Bush to the White House.

She later expanded the trip to include visits to Arlington in Washington, Baltimore in Maryland and also braved the heat when she set foot in Florida and Texas.

The Queen made her final journey to the U.S in 2007 when President George W. Bush invited her to the White House before spending a further a few days travelling around Richmond, Jamestown, Williamsburg, Lexington, Louisville and Greenbelt.

The monarch was later represented by the-then Prince of Wales at the George Bush Sr's funeral in 2018.

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