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Bubbly and Small Talk With Her Majesty

Annie Leibovitz is greeted by the queen at a reception for Americans working in England. (By Fiona Hanson -- Associated Press)

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They each held out big beefy rower's paws, thick with sore-looking calluses and blisters from the oars. The queen examined them closely, and sympathized as if the young men were her grandchildren.

Mary and I asked her about her trip to Virginia.

"You know, I was there 50 years ago," she said, adding that she was most interested in seeing how much Jamestown had changed. "It's a shock to the system to think I'm going back 50 years later."

The queen turned to McBride, who chatted with her about the Kentucky Derby. The queen has a disarming habit of smiling only when she finds something funny; she lacks the political perma-smile. But McBride's mention of horses and the Derby brought a big smile to her face.

The queen is known for her wicked, dry sense of humor, so I ventured a joke.

"Brian is here teaching the English how to play football," I said, using the British word for soccer. There was nervous laughter all around. The British take their soccer very seriously.

"A different kind of football," she said, teasing right back.

With that, the queen was ushered on to the next group, and the next, and the next, until 8 o'clock sharp, when she passed through a large set of doors and was gone.

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