Royal Reunion

"We are ancient by the standards on this side of the water, if not your own," Nichol told the queen.

Senior Class President Jessica A. Vance then rose and announced that the queen would receive an honorary degree.

"I ask you to join us in becoming an honorary member of the Class of 2007," Vance said. "For now, ma'am, will you please stand and join us in the singing of our -- and now your -- alma mater."

And with that, several thousand students, faculty and guests filling the long grass courtyard stood and sang the alma mater. At its conclusion, the queen clapped her white gloved hands politely.

Then, fulfilling a William and Mary tradition, the honorary graduate was offered the chance afforded all seniors on their last day of classes -- to ring the Wren bell.

"I asked her if she wanted to do it," 22-year-old Vance, who accompanied the queen to the bell, said later. "She said, no, I could do it."

So Vance rang the bell, and the queen emerged on a second-floor balcony. Leaning into a microphone overlooking the courtyard, Vance announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the newest member of the Class of 2007, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II."

Staff writers Rosalind S. Helderman and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.