In 1939, with Europe on the brink of war and the US leaning towards isolationism, President Roosevelt invited King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to visit America. During their four-day visit, they enjoyed a picnic at FDR’s estate where the king tried his first hot dog, becoming the first reigning British monarch to set foot on American soil. The visit helped strengthen political ties between the two countries.
Europe was on the verge of war in June 1939 and the political winds in the United States tended towards isolationism, with some anti-British sentiment in the country. President Franklin D. Roosevelt knew America would soon need strong allies, so he arranged for Britain’s King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, to visit as a stop on their royal tour of Canada. George VI would become the first reigning British monarch to set foot on American soil. The four-day visit included sightseeing, a formal state dinner, and the usual royal pomp and circumstance. But the most notable event of the tour was a casual picnic at FDR’s Hyde Park estate, where the king enjoyed his first hot dog, served on a paper plate and accompanied by a beer.
A sandwich fit for a king:
“KING TRIALS HOT DOG AND ASKS FOR MORE” was the excited headline from the New York Times. At the picnic, the royals had a chance to meet the Roosevelts’ friends and neighbors in a relaxed atmosphere.
A little baffled, the queen allegedly asked how to eat her hot dog. “Very simple,” FDR replied. “Push it into your mouth and keep pushing it until it’s all gone.” Instead she opted for a knife and fork.
King George VI’s visit became a key component in developing stronger political ties between the two countries.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
