Meeting Royalty

After the end of World War I, President Wilson traveled to Europe to participate in the negotiations of the Paris Peace Conference, ultimately producing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. However, he first traveled to London, England and met with the British Royal family on Boxing Day, December 26, 1918.

From left to right stands First Lady Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, Queen Mary, President Woodrow Wilson, King George V, and Princess Mary with each of their signatures underneath their pictures.

Woodrow Wilson and King George V

Along with Mrs. Wilson, the President met with King George V, Queen Mary, and Princess Mary. Together they discussed the upcoming conference and celebrated the holiday season together. Wilson's popularity with the British public was evident during his stay: at Buckingham Palace, crowds chanted "We want Wilson" until he appeared on the balcony with King George V and Queen Mary. This warm reception and the diplomatic discussions helped lay the groundwork for what would later become known as the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States. On December 31, 1918, the King and Queen accompanied the President and Mrs. Wilson to the train station to go to Dover. Before they left, the Wilsons and the British Royal Family took a picture together and our library has an exact copy of it.

What makes this photograph particularly memorable, however, is an amusing wardrobe mishap. One of the most interesting parts of this picture involves Wilson's trousers. In the hurry of getting ready to depart and take the picture, the bottom of one of the president's trousers failed to be turned down. The picture shows one pant leg with a cuff turned up and the other one turned down. Another picture was taken of just Wilson and the King and it too showed the amusing incident.

Photo of (left to right) King George, President Wilson, Queen Mary, and Mrs. Wilson at Charing Cross Station. WWPL Digital Photo Collection.

Dr. Cary T. Grayson, who also accompanied the Wilsons on the trip, wrote of the picture being taken and the pant incident in his diary. Grayson wrote that the "British people, once the picture was published, felt very kindly towards the President." He noted there were editorial comments suggesting "this little freak of dress showed how little the president cared for personal appearances, and it strengthened him with people generally when the picture was printed. It made a particular hit with the men in the street."

Blog written by WWPL intern Hayley Moore.