Britain's Queen Elizabeth Coming to New York City

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Michelle Ruiz Contributor

AOL News

(July 5) -- Queen Elizabeth II will visit New York on Tuesday for the third time in her 58-year reign, addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the first time in half a century and making her first trip to Ground Zero, where she plans to lay a wreath.

After spending nine days in Canada to celebrate Canada Day and the centenary of the Canadian Navy, the queen, 84, and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will cap off their North American journey with a whirlwind half-day in the Big Apple. It is the monarch's first visit since 1976, when she was made an "honorary New Yorker" by Mayor Abraham Beame.

Queen Elizabeth will deliver a mid-afternoon speech to delegates from 192 countries at the U.N., according to reports, her first address there since 1957, when she urged delegates to pursue peace and uphold civil rights. In Tuesday's speech, reportedly penned by government officials but containing some of the queen's thoughts, she will offer personal reflections and "appeal for world unity."

Richard Drew, AP

The last time Queen Elizabeth II visited New York City was in 1976. Here, she passes a crowd of shoppers while touring the Bloomingdale's department store during that trip.

"She will be taking a global perspective," Harriet Cross of the United Kingdom's Mission to the United Nations, told The New York Times. "She will touch on progress made since she was last here, and challenges that remain."

The queen plans to tour the World Trade Center site in the late afternoon, meeting Mayor Michael Bloomberg and governors David Paterson of New York and Christopher Christie of New Jersey. She will not make a speech but she is expected to lay a wreath before heading to Hanover Garden in Lower Manhattan, where she will open the British Garden of Remembrance honoring the 67 British citizens killed on 9/11.

The queen will meet approximately 50 family members of subjects who perished in the 2001 attacks.

She follows in the footsteps of other royals who have paid their respects at Ground Zero, including Prince Harry last year and Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, in 2005.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will fly back to Great Britain in the evening.

Reports today said the queen's annual spending of 38.2 million pounds ($57.8 million) is down from 41.5 million pounds ($62.8 million) last year, after the royal took fewer charter flights and refunded money to the government with the sale of an old helicopter, Buckingham Palace said. Each British person contributes 62 pence (94 cents) a year to support the royal household, according to the palace.

 Princess Maxima of The Netherlands officially named the cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam in a ceremony in Venice, Italy.

Elegant and smiling, the Princess took the stage in the ship's classy, red and black Art Deco-inspired theater and recited the traditional blessing before pulling a lever, setting a large bottle of champagne smashing against the 86,000-ton vessel's side (the outdoor activity seen on a screen in the theater).

The ceremony also featured an onstage appearance by captains from all 15 Holland America Line ships, the first such gathering, according to officials of the venerable line.


But Argentina-born Princess Maxima, wearing a short gray dress, high-heeled sandals and a big brimmed summer hat, was the star of the day. She also spent time touring the ship, having lunch in the ship's Manhattan Dining Room and meeting the crew.

The Dutch princess' mother-in-law, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, served as godmother of sister ship Eurodam in 2008.

After Princess Maxima left the vessel, the ship departed on a 10-day maiden cruise in the Mediterranean.

The 2,106-passenger ship, with its classic blue hull, is the fourth in HAL's 137-year history to be called Nieuw Amsterdam, the original name the Dutch gave New York.

And in a tribute to the Big Apple, the vessel is done up in lovely, contemporary and Art Deco-inspired decor with special touches such as the New York skyline depicted in the large, hanging glass sculpture in the atrium (like several objects on the ship the sculpture features changing color lights).

Holland America president and CEO Stein Kruse said the latest ship wasn't the only good news for the premium line. At a press conference, he said Holland America's prices were also on the upswing, which he said was "encouraging," especially given the global economic climate. Of course that may come as less than good news to consumers; prices are inching up.


The Nieuw Amsterdam in layout is exactly like Eurodam - both were built at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard outside of Venice - with officials deciding not to mess with a good thing. There is one impressive new feature, a chef's table, available for 18 guests nightly. It's priced at $89 and includes many courses of fancy food with accompanying wines.

Like its sister ship, Nieuw Amsterdam has two, for-a-fee alternative dining venues, an upscale steakhouse and fancy Tamarind Asian restaurant, in addition to a choice of several free dining venues.

The ship has a lavish Greenhouse Spa where treatments include a massage and facial using precious jewel dust. There's a lavish hydrotherapy area (again a fee is involved) as well as private cabanas you can rent for private, open-air lounging.

The Nieuw Amsterdam's $3 million art collection includes works by big-name contemporary artists as well as antiques. The disco has video screens everywhere including in the tables. The ships kids' center has the super cool feature of a real New York cab kids can climb in. Cooking classes are offered at an impressive culinary arts center. And the Internet cafe includes a coffee bar and living room-style seating.

Something for everyone, for sure.

Holland America is based in Seattle and owned by Carnival Corp.

Photos by Fran Golden. Top photo, Princess Maxima (in hat) with Stein Kruse, Captain Edward G. van Zaane and a greeter. Ship photo courtesy of Holland America Line