United Kingdom
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
02 November 2005
President Welcomes Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to the White House
THE PRESIDENT: Your Royal Highness, it is a great honor for Laura
and me to host you and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall at the
White House. Your visit is a reminder of the unique and enduring bond
between the United Kingdom and the United States. Americans know that
we have no greater friend than the United Kingdom. And it's my sincere
hope that the United Kingdom knows it has no greater admirer than the
United States.
Our nations are intimately linked through deep historical and
cultural ties, through active commercial and political bonds, and
through shared values. Nowhere are those shared values more nobly
expressed than in our common commitment to expanding freedom in this
world.
In the first part of the 20th century, our nations stood together
to ensure that fascism did not prevail in Europe. In the second half of
the 20th century, we worked tirelessly to defeat the totalitarian
ideology of communism. And today we're fighting side by side against an
ideology of hatred and intolerance to ensure that the 21st century will
be one of liberty and hope.
The people of the United States draw great strength from having the
United Kingdom as an ally. The nation that defied bombardment from the
air in 1940 once again refused to cower when its people were bombed from
underground this summer. Your courage and fortitude are an inspiration
to people throughout the world.
Just as Britain is a leader in the effort to spread freedom and
opportunity abroad, Your Royal Highness is a leader in creating greater
opportunity at home. Your compassion and charitable efforts such as the
Prince's Trust continue to help more of Britain's young people and
entrepreneurs pursue their dreams in life.
Your Royal Highness, your generous spirit, your steadfast
leadership and your devotion to your people are an inspiration. Laura
and I are honored to have you and Her Royal Highness as guests this
evening, and I'd now like to offer a toast to the enduring friendship
between the United Kingdom and the United States.
PRINCE CHARLES: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, ladies and gentlemen,
can I just say what a joy it is for both my wife and myself to be with
you here in the White House? It brings back many fond and happy
memories of my first visit here with my sister. I think it was in 1970,
when we came to stay at the White House for the weekend with President
and Mrs. Nixon, at the time when the media were busy trying to marry me
off to Tricia Nixon. (Laughter.) And it's very interesting to see the
same sort of thing happening to my eldest son. (Laughter.) So it seems
to be an entirely hereditary feature. (Laughter.)
Mr. President, Sir Winston Churchill, whose mother was, of course,
American, and whose bust you have in a place of honor in the Oval Office
once said after one of his 16 visits to the United States over some 66
years, "The friendliness of the Americans to the traveler from Britain,
their unfailing kindness, their generous hospitality are something to
marvel at." Well, nothing has changed, Mr. President. We have both
most certainly experienced the same generosity and friendliness since
our arrival yesterday. And this has been the case on every previous
visit I have ever made to this remarkable country.
It is an indication, if I may say so, Mr. President, of how very
important and special our close, warm and enduring relationship with the
United States of America is to all of us in the United Kingdom. Our two
nations have much in common. We share so much history and tradition,
language and culture, and a commitment to democracy and liberty. These
enrich the spirit and are founded on those greatest of all gifts --
friendship and loyalty.
On Friday, we will meet veterans of our struggle together against
evil and tyranny in the Second World War. The selfless service that our
parents' generation gave, including, of course, both our fathers -- and
how wonderful it is, if I may say so to see President Bush 41 here this
evening -- and the selfless service that we commemorate in this 60th
anniversary year will always stand as a measure of the commitment,
courage and comradeship of our two great nations.
On Thanksgiving Day in 1944, while we were allies in arms in that
global struggle, Sir Winston Churchill looked forward to what he called
"a lasting union of sympathy and good feeling and loyalty and hope
between all the British and American peoples." Well, that is a vision
all of us here share.
And, indeed, that lasting union of sympathy has been so amply
demonstrated in our own day when we shared with you the full horror of
September the 11th four years ago, and more recently, when following the
terrorist attacks in London, so many of us in the United Kingdom were
profoundly touched by the many messages of steadfast support and
solidarity from across the United States.
But our visit is not focused only on the misfortunes that have
united our nations. We were particularly pleased to have had the chance
this afternoon to go with Mrs. Bush to the inspiring SEED School in
Anacostia, a school that offers young people from underprivileged
backgrounds the chance to fulfill the potential that each person has.
And this incidentally, is what my Prince's Trust has been seeking to do
for very nearly 30 years in the United Kingdom, and which has led to
over half a million young people being assisted to develop their
individual talents and abilities.
And, Mr. President, I am also very conscious of the extraordinary
social progress this country has achieved. On the day Rosa Parks is
laid to rest, there is a powerful message, I think, here about tolerance
and inclusion that has relevance for the whole international community.
My wife and I are deeply grateful to you, Mr. President, and, Mrs.
Bush, for your generous hospitality towards us, but more so, as I am
only too conscious of the enormous challenges and responsibilities which
face the 43rd President of the United States. And I need hardly say
that so many people throughout the world look to the United States of
America for a lead on the most crucial issues that face our planet and,
indeed, the lives of our grandchildren. Truly, the burdens of the world
rest on your shoulders.
In conclusion may I propose a toast to you, Mr. President, to Mrs.
Bush and to the people of the United States of America.
(Toasts are exchanged.) (Applause.)
END 8:04 P.M. EST
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