Queen gets white-tie dinner

WASHINGTON – President Bush doesn’t like fancy dinners, but he’s making an exception for Queen Elizabeth II.

Bush and his wife, Laura, will host the first white-tie state dinner of his presidency in honor of the queen on Monday, the White House announced.

It will be the Bushes’ fifth state dinner in six years, but the white-tie designation will make it the fanciest. State dinners typically are black-tie events. White tie is the most formal of evening attire, requiring men to wear a long black dinner jacket with tails. Women typically wear a long evening gown.

The invitation list has not been disclosed, but the White House said 134 guests will be seated in the State Dining Room for a five-course dinner.