How do American hosts entertain a monarch who has visited nearly every country on earth and dined with 10 U.S. presidents over the course of her 55-year reign? “The State Visit” follows the elaborate preparations as four localities get ready for a visit from the queen. At the site of the United States’ first permanent British settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, the chief archeologist brushes up on royal etiquette. In Williamsburg, Virginia, nervous hotel staff makes sure they prepare Her Majesty’s room to an exacting standard of perfection. The White House hosts the first and only white-tie dinner of the administration and plans for every contingency, including canine misbehavior. In the royal household, they’ve invited celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz for a formal photo shoot with the queen, although Leibovitz’s request to seat Her Majesty on a horse inside the state apartments proves a bit too much. In exclusive interviews, Leibovitz shares her desire to capture the essence of monarchy; First Lady Laura Bush personally leads a private tour of the White House; and the queen’s press secretary reveals the challenges of keeping up with her boss. Behind the scenes and at her side from beginning to end, “The State Visit” shows what it takes to plan and execute an official visit from the queen.
- KAKM: Monday, 6/11 at 8:00pm
