Queen Elizabeth II visited Tampa on May 20, 1991. Here’s a look back.

TAMPA — On May 20, 1991, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II sailed into Tampa and stayed for 2 1/2 hours to name U.S. Army Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf an honorary knight during a private ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base.

Queen Elizabeth II is seen in Tampa during her visit in May of 1991. [ City of Tampa ]

“With more secrecy than pageantry, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II sailed into Tampa Monday to bestow her country’s highest honor on one of this nation’s most popular heroes,” read one local story on her visit the next day. “The queen awarded U.S. Army Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf an honorary knighthood during a private ceremony in Schwarzkopf’s office at MacDill Air Force Base Monday morning, capping a whirlwind visit to the bay area. The much-anticipated royal visit started promptly at 9:58 a.m. when Britain’s monarch gingerly stepped off the HMY Britannia to wave at a throng of dignitaries and well-wishers. Two hours later, after braving rain to greet hundreds of residents and military personnel, she ended her trip with a sprightly wave and boarded the Concorde at MacDill for a flight to Austin, Texas, the next leg of her two-week visit to the United States.”

Here is more coverage of that historic visit.