Wink, Wink: How Queen Elizabeth II Deals with Inappropriate Behavior

President George W. Bush shooting a sly wink at Queen Elizabeth isn't the first blatant infraction of protocol that she's had to face over the years. In actuality, the Queen knows how to give back as good as she gets. In this case, after Bush bumbled over his welcoming speech, meaning to say that the Queen had "helped our nation celebrate our bicentennial in 1976" and saying that she had "helped our nation celebrate our bicentennial in 1776", she subsequently stated in a dinner toast, "I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying 'When I was here in 1776 ..."

Also, this wasn't the only faux pas that she dealt with on this most recent visit to the United States, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Virginia, the first successful British colony; and the running of the Kentucky Derby. (Note that Churchill Downs employees attended etiquette classes in anticipation of the Queen's arrival)

First Lady Laura Bush didn't curtsy upon meeting the Queen at the White House. Also, during an afternoon tea at the British Embassy, octogenarian actor Mickey Rooney grabbed the Queen's white-gloved hand and gave it a long kiss.

And Bush's wasn't the first presidential fracture of protocol that she's had to deal with. In 1991, when visiting President George H.W. Bush, the current President's father, she made a speech on the White House behind a podium that was too tall for the 5'4" monarch and no step was provided for her. The result was that she appeared behind a row of microphones as what could only be described as a "talking hat." And once again the Queen gave as good as she got, this time she stated at an address to Congress, "I do hope you can see me from where you are today." This White House gaffe was thereafter called "podiumgate."

Another protocol infraction occurred during this 1991 visit to the States. While visiting a Washington D.C. housing project, resident Alice Frazier grabbed the Queen in a bearhug.

In 1976, when President Gerald Ford asked the Queen to dance at a White House dinner, the U.S. Marine Band launched into a rendition of Cole Porter's "The Lady is a Tramp."