At Heathrow Airport in England, a 300-foot red
carpet was stretched out to Air Force One and President Bush strode to a warm but
dignified handshake from Queen Elizabeth II.
They rode in a silver 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London where they boarded an
open 17th century coach hitched to six magnificent white horses. As they rode toward
Buckingham Palace, each looking to their side and waving to the thousands of cheering
Britons lining the streets, all was going well. This was indeed a glorious display of
pageantry and dignity.
Suddenly the scene was shattered when the right rear horse let rip the most horrendous,
earth-shattering, eye-smarting blast of flatulence and the coach immediately filled with
noxious fumes.
Uncomfortable, but maintaining control, the two dignitaries did their best to ignore the
whole incident, but then the Queen decided that was a ridiculous manner with which to
handle a most embarrassing situation.
She turned to Mr. Bush and explained, "Mr. President, please accept my regrets. I'm
sure you understand that there are some things even a Queen cannot control."
George W., ever the Texas gentleman, replied, "Your Majesty, please don't give the
matter another thought. You know, if you hadn't said something I would have assumed it was
one of the horses."
