Queen Elizabeth addressed Congress, a precedent in U.S-UK relations.
On May 16, 1991, Queen Elizabeth II addressed a joint session of the United States Congress, becoming the first British monarch in history to do so. Her landmark speech was a testament to the strong alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States during a time of immense global change following the end of the Cold War. This event underscored the Queen's role in international diplomacy, symbolizing cooperation and mutual respect between two leading world democracies, and was seen as an emblem of enduring Anglo-American ties.