Former President Bush received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II Monday, the highest honor Britain can bestow on a foreigner.
Bush and his wife, Barbara, had lunch with the queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. The four later emerged from the palace chatting amiably, shook hands all around, and the Bushes climbed into a car to be driven out the palace gates. Bush waved but his medal was not visible.Bush received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, the rarely awarded top order of knighthoods. The only other American to receive it since World War II was former President Reagan, a close ally of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The award to Bush was recommended by Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd.
British officials said it marked the close relationship between the Republican president and Britain's Conservative government, particularly during the gulf war.