Bush walks with The Duke of Edinburgh during an inspection of the Guard of Honour. (AP Photo/Chris Harris/pool)
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INDEPTH: U.K. VISIT
By the numbers
Justin Thompson, CBC News Online | November 18, 2003
On November 18, 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in London for his first-ever state visit to the U.K. He and first lady Laura Bush arrived at Heathrow Airport to a welcome by Prince Charles, whose mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is hosting the couple at Buckingham Palace.
Along with the usual changes of clothing and personal effects, the Bushes brought with them a small army of security personnel and a fleet of support vehicles and equipment. The visit is touted as one of the largest state visits in recent times.
Here’s how it shakes down, by the numbers:
A London Metropolitan policeman on duty. Image courtesy Justin Thompson, CBC News Online.
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14,000
The number of officer shifts scheduled by London’s Metropolitan Police to provide security for Bush’s visit to the U.K.
$11 million (£ 5 million)
The cost of hiring extra police officers to provide security for Bush’s visit.
$4.42 (£ 2)
The amount London Mayor Kenneth Livingstone estimates the Bush visit will cost the average taxpayer in his city.
$8.84 (£ 4)
The amount London Mayor Kenneth Livingstone estimates the average Londoner would be willing to pay for George W. Bush to cancel his visit.
Official portrait of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Image courtesy of the White House.
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Up to 100,000
Estimated number of people expected to march through central London to protest the visit.
1,000
Size of then-president Bill Clinton’s delegation for his trip to Vietnam in November 2000.
1918
The last time a U.S. president – Woodrow Wilson – stayed at Buckingham Palace as a guest. Wilson visited King George V shortly after Christmas that year.
13 centimetres
The thickness of the armour plating on President Bush’s limousine.
2
The minimum number of presidential limousines flown to London (one is a backup) for the visit.
A U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy heavy transport. Image courtesy of USAF.
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2
The minimum number of Galaxy C-5 heavy transport aircraft assigned to carry U.S. support equipment and personnel on any given state visit.
0
The number of Galaxy C-5 heavy transport aircraft owned by Canada. The entire Canadian Forces relies on a stable of 32 much smaller C-130 Hercules aircraft, each capable of hauling 17,320 kg, or 14 per cent of the cargo of a C-5.
200 +
The number of U.S. Secret Service agents assigned to directly guard the president during his state visit to the U.K.
2,000
The number of meals capable of being stored aboard the presidential aircraft - Air Force One.
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