Buzz Grows Over Her Majesty's U.S. Visit

It was party time at Buckingham Palace, as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip entertained a few hundred of their closest American friends. Close, says CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips, because they live in Britain.

Among them, actor Don Johnson of "Miami Vice" fame.

It quickly became clear, Phillips observed, that the show hadn't been a palace must-see, since Johnson had to explain to some guests that he's an actor!

The reception was in honor of the Queen's six-day visit to the United States in early May, her fourth state visit to America. During her first, she was a guest of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Many presidents have come and gone in that time, but she's still here.

When you've been head of state for 55 years, the numbers add up, Phillips points out. Ten American presidents, 8 of whom she'd meet, 325 official foreign visits -- you might think, at 80 years of age, the Queen had seen enough of the world and it of her.

But, Phillips notes, she is riding a new wave of popularity both in Britain and the U.S. since the release of the hit movie, "The Queen." Her portrayal by Helen Mirren won the actress an Oscar and the real queen new fans.

This trip commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first English settlement in American at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and artifacts were on display for the palace guests. The Queen is also slated to attend the Kentucky Derby and visit with President and Laura Bush.

The Queen, too, will soon be on display, when celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz will take the official photo for the state visit.

Says Philips, "Move over, Tony Soprano. The glossies are about to get a new cover girl!"