It was an enjoyable weekend both for the First Couple and for the Royals. Saturday was spent fishing for salmon, which was enjoyably consumed that evening at dinner.
The Queen told the President that, after church the next morning, she and Prince Philip had a brief public engagement at the local hospital, but that the Obamas may join them if they wished.
"Of course, Your Majesty, we'd be honoured."
The next morning, the Obamas accompanied the Mountbatten-Windsors to the local Kirk, and then to the local hospital, where a new ward was to be formally opened."
At the hospital, the official opening was preceded by a "meet and greet", so the four dignitaries were given cups of tea while they mingled among the staff and patients.
A young man approached the First Lady, kissed her hand, gave her a rose and began to declaim,
My love is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June ....
... until he was led away by a staff member.
An elderly man approached the President, handed him a large slice of cake, and declared,
A man's a man for a that and a that,
A man's a man for a that ...
... until he also was led away by a staffer.
An elderly woman approached the Queen and the Duke, smiled as if she was recognising a pair of old friends from her schooldays, and handed each of them a generous tumbler of whisky, saying,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ...
... until she too was led away.
The President was moved by the event and remarked to the Queen, "Your Majesty, it's been an honour for Michelle and myself to be part of the opening of such a progressive and compassionate psychiatric ward."
"Thank you, Mr. President, but this isn't a psychiatric ward. It's the Burns Unit."
***
For those who celebrate it, Happy Burns Night on the 25th!
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