Straining for a Glimpse of Royalty

Midway through the walk, Prince Philip picked up a young girl and carried her across a police barricade so she could personally meet the queen.

Later, the queen encountered members of the Osbourn High School football team from Manassas. They were invited because the team won the state AAA championship in the fall. The coach gave her a team-autographed ball, which she quickly handed to an aide.

Chiefs from the state's eight Indian tribes, whose ancestors first encountered the British at Jamestown, performed a dance. Ben Adams, 57, a member of the Upper Mataponi tribe who danced for the queen, said he was thrilled.

"It was real exciting. For her to come -- it's tremendous respect for her," said Adams, who is the chief's brother. "It has been a sorrowful time. But now is a time for healing. Our ancestors would be happy about this."

Hayley Hassett, 10, who got up close with other classmates from Mary Mumford Elementary School in Richmond, still seemed wide-eyed about the event half an hour later.

"I handed her the flowers. I didn't really say anything," Hayley said. "She said, 'You're very kind' in a really soft voice. It was very cool talking to the queen."

The only skirmish that occurred between the former colonists and the British took place near the riser set up at the foot of the Capitol steps: British photographers complained that the Americans had grabbed all the good spots in advance.

Many of the Native Americans who came said they hoped their presence would raise awareness of two key points: their survival despite 400 years of intermittent conflict and racial divisions with the European descendants and their desire for federal recognition.

"We were here first. We're hoping it will give us some insight on our life and maybe they'll give back something to the people who have had so much taken away," said Mayflower Adkins, 80, a member of the Chickahominy tribe who attended with her daughter, Birdie, 58. Both live in Charles City.

Chief Bill Miles of the Pamunkey nation presented the queen with a copy of a pearl and gold brooch given to Pocahontas when the Powhatan princess, having converted to Christianity and married colonist John Rolfe, visited London 400 years ago.

Judy Arenstein never caught sight of Her Majesty, although she had dearly hoped to.

Working the information counter at the Richmond airport as a volunteer, she had to settle for the photo on the cover of the magazine she had brought with her, hoping to get the queen's autograph. She has had it all her life -- the Feb. 15, 1943, issue of Life, from the week Arenstein was born.