Queen Elizabeth II’s 1991 visit to Miami leaves a lasting impression

MIAMI – On Could 17, 1991, Queen Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip touched down at Miami Worldwide Airport in a chartered Concorde, kicking off a go to to South Florida—and WPLG was there to cowl it.

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died Thursday after 70 years on the throne.

Then-Gov. Lawton Chiles and then-Mayor Xavier Suarez, father of present Mayor Francis Suarez, greeted the monarch forward of a go to to Booker T. Washington Center Faculty in Overtown and the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.

“She was all grace, only a fantastic human being. I don’t know anyone who stated something damaging in regards to the queen,” stated Suarez.

“I used to be the one one who may hear what was taking place as a result of I used to be proper subsequent to her,” he stated.

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After visiting Coconut Grove Elementary, one of many college students requested her, “how lengthy have you ever been queen?” and he or she stated, “You already know what, I’m going to allow you to look it up within the historical past books.”

From Vizcaya, the queen traveled to the royal yacht for an intimate feast and reception that included former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Suarez was amongst these on board.

Regardless of all of the well-known protocol surrounding interactions with the queen, Suarez remembers her as down-to-earth and type.

“She was very gracious, very easygoing,” stated Suarez. “Virtually like, virtually like your neighbor, and in some ways, it was like your neighbor.”