Queen Elizabeth II arrived for the commemoration of Jamestown's 400th anniversary and praised the cultural changes that have occurred since she last visited America's first permanent English settlement 50 years ago.
"Over the course of my reign and certainly since I first visited Jamestown in 1957, my country has become a much more diverse society, just as the commonwealth of Virginia and the whole United States of America have also undergone a major
social change," the queen said in a speech to the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, the first stop on her US visit on Thursday.
"The melting pot metaphor captures one of the great strengths of your country and is an inspiration to others around the world as we face the continuing social challenges ahead," she said.
The last time the queen helped Virginia mark the anniversary of its colonial founding, it was an all-white affair in a still-segregated state.
Thursday's visit was starkly different as the queen saluted Native Americans and
venerated civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill.
Governor Timothy M Kaine said the message could not be more timely or appropriate.
The queen planned to meet privately with some of the wounded and relatives of some of the 33 killed in the 16th April massacre at Virginia Tech.
"My heart goes out to the students, friends and families of those killed and to the many others who have been affected, some of whom I shall be meeting shortly," she said.
"On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, I extend my deepest
sympathies at this time of such grief and sorrow." - DDNews India
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