How a 65-Year-Old Chair at Michael Jordan?s Alma Mater Turned Into a Throne of Its Own, Owing to Queen Elizabeth?s First Visit to America

United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96. She came to the throne in 1952. Leaders and celebrities around the world have shared their condolences for the passing of the Queen. President Joe Biden with First Lady Jill Biden on Friday visited the British Embassy in Washington to sign a condolence book after the death of the Queen. Biden is the 13th and the final U.S. President to meet the Queen. Queen Elizabeth II first visited the country as the Queen in 1957.

Being an ardent follower of sports, she could not pass up the opportunity to watch an American football game. The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, watched a football game between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the University of Maryland Terrapins.

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Her presence made it a huge event and people came out in numbers to watch the game. Maryland won the game with a scoreline of 21-7. However, she cheered for both teams. When she left the game, then governor of North Carolina, Luther Hodges gave her a trophy as a gift. Interestingly, the chair used by the Queen that day is still preserved and is on display at the University of Maryland.

Queen Elizabeth II’s love for sports

Thirty years after the Queen watched the Tar Heels play, NBA legend Michael Jordan would help the Tar Heels basketball team win the national title. Queen Elizabeth II has been part of some of the biggest moments in UK soccer history. She had the pleasure of presenting England’s only ever World Cup trophy to Sir Bobby Moore in 1966. There have been reports that the Queen is an Arsenal supporter, however, rumors suggest that she is a West Ham fan.

In 2007, she was supposed to open Arsenal’s new stadium, the ‘Emirates’. But she could not make it because of a bad back. To make amends, the monarch invited the first-team squad to Buckingham Palace. Legendary manager, Arsene Wenger, and the team met the Queen and had a tour of the State Apartments.

After the event, soccer legend Thierry Henry said: “It went really nicely. I have no words to describe the experience the Queen has given us.”

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She is also a big fan of tennis and has watched many matches over the years. Tennis legend Roger Federer took to Twitter and wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Royal Majesty. Her elegance, grace and loyalty to her duty will live on in history. I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to the entire Royal Family and Great Britain.”

Athletes around the world, former and current, are also paying their tributes to the Queen.