When she visits Virginia next week as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversay of the founding of the Jamestown Colony, Queen Elizabeth will address the Virginia General Assembly:
RICHMOND, April 24 — Queen Elizabeth II will tour Virginia’s newly renovated state Capitol and address a joint session of the General Assembly next Thursday as she kicks off a six-day U.S. tour that will include a visit to the Jamestown settlement, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) announced today.
The queen’s May 3 visit to the governor’s mansion and state Capitol will symbolize Virginia’s historical ties to England. The queen will be accompanied by Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Kaine said.
In 1607, 104 English explorers landed in Jamestown and became the first English settlers to the New World. Twelve years later, the settlers established the House of Burgesses, the first elected legislative body in the New World. The House of Burgesses later became the Virginia General Assembly, which claims to be the oldest law-making body in the United States.
And, of course, the Virginia House of Burgesses was among one of the most active in resisting British rule in the years leading up to the revolution. Among those who served during those times were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and James Madison. How ironic that a descendent of George III will now address the very body that produced some of the shining lights of the Revolution.
Personally, color me unimpressed that a woman who holds her title merely by genetic coincidence will be awarded this honor.
