Former U.S. President Bill Clinton rejected tea with Queen Elizabeth II during his first official visit to the U.K. 1997 because he wanted to go to an Indian restaurant.
Previously classified records show the Queen invited the president to 5 p.m. tea at Buckingham Palace the week before the Clintons' arrival.
Downing Street was "pulling out all the stops" to ensure Clinton's visit was a "public relations success," according to memos between John Holmes, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's principal private secretary, and Dominick Chilcott, assistant private secretary to the foreign secretary.
Clinton was visiting the U.K. for a day in 1997 for his first meeting with Blair, who had just been elected, The Guardian reported, citing declassified documents.
The Palace told Blair's office "Her Majesty the Queen would be very pleased" to invite the Clintons to tea on their visit from summits in Paris and The Hague, The Guardian said.
"The Americans said that the president and Mrs. Clinton were very grateful for The Queen's invitation to tea at the palace, but would wish to decline politely," a note from Blair's private secretary, Phillip Barton, reveals.
"The Americans were not attracted to our suggestion of a dinner at Chequers," Barton's note said.
Chequers is the U.K. prime minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire, around 30 miles northwest of London.
The Clintons were more interested in a "fun" and "photogenic" outside event, the New York Post said.
Foreign Office suggestions, which were ignored, also included a "jamming session" for Clinton (saxophone) and Blair (guitar) "to play together briefly," the Post said, citing the declassified documents.
Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the U.S. He is married to Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and presidential candidate.
Clinton didn't get an Indian in the end, The Guardian reported. The Clintons and Blairs went to a French restaurant instead.
The documents have been released by the U.K.'s National Archives.
