[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14307]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II ON THE OCCASION OF HER 
                                JUBILEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. HIMES

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 18, 2012

  Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, recently I was asked by a resident of 
Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District to enter into the Record a 
letter from Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed to Her Majesty Queen 
Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Jubilee.

                                                Greenwich, CT,

                                                    June 12, 2012.
       Your Majesty, Congratulations on Your Diamond Jubilee!
       I put pen to paper to send You these few lines. We watched 
     every frame of the Jubilee--every `moving part' was superb. 
     You looked so elegant as did Prince Philip. And, The `Young' 
     have won the hearts of millions!
       I salute You for the magnificent job You have done and 
     accomplished over the many decades of Your Reign. Your wisdom 
     in these changing times is admirable.
       Both Mrs. Reed and I have the most wonderful memories of 
     Your State Visit to the US of A (May, 1991) when I served as 
     Chief of Protocol of The White House. We were thrilled to be 
     Your traveling hosts to Florida and Texas. Your Team was `the 
     best' led by Lord Airlie.
       It was yours truly who was responsible for the `protocol 
     gaffe' of `The Talking Hat' at the Welcome Ceremony on the 
     South Lawn.
       Wherever I go on Mission for the United Nations to the 
     nations of the Commonwealth I can start up a warm 
     conversation with the history of `The Talking Hat'.
       You said it all when You kindly asked me to join You on the 
     Britannia in Cyprus during a Commonwealth meeting--When I 
     arrived You pointed at me and said, ``You should have `The 
     Talking Hat' on your tombstone!''
       We hope and pray that the Duke of Edinburgh regains full 
     health.
       With respect, admiration and every good wish.
           Long May You Reign!
     Joseph Verner Reed.
                                  ____



                                                 Greenwich, CT

                                                    June 12, 2012.
       Dear Mr. Geidt, I hope you have recovered from the Jubilee!
       I appreciate Her Majesty must be inundated with messages 
     and correspondence in connection with the Jubilee. I 
     hesitated to write to Her Majesty but, was so overwhelmed 
     with the Jubilee events that I could not resist sending Her 
     Majesty these few lines.
       Mrs. Reed and I think that Her Majesty and Prince Philip 
     have accomplished the most wonderful job during Her Reign.
       We will always be mindful of the fabulous ten days we spent 
     steering Her Majesty's Team during Her State Visit to the US 
     of A in the Spring of 1991. Of course, `The Talking Hat' at 
     the Welcome ceremony at The White House was a protocol fiasco 
     which is still talked about in Federal City. Barbara (Mrs. 
     Bush) has never forgiven me! Her Majesty won the hearts of 
     all of Washington when the day after the ``gaffe'' Her 
     Majesty came to the Rostrum of the House of Representatives 
     and looked out across the jammed Chamber and in a distinct 
     magisterial voice and facial expression said . . .
       `I hope you can see me today!'
       If and when things calm down and you see fit to have Her 
     Majesty look over my letter please present it to Her.
           With special thanks and good wishes,
                                               Joseph Verner Reed.