Robert Bouwmeester, 14, and his brother Matt Bouwmeester, 10, of Reston, Va., stood on the South Lawn this morning, each holding a bouquet of flowers to give to Queen Elizabeth II.

Robert said seeing the queen was "a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"We like the queen," Robert said. "She has been a great support to our country. Whatever we're doing, we always know we'll always have the support of at least one other country."

The boys, who were brought by their parents, were not sure what kind of flowers they had brought for the queen.

"These are, I think, assorted flowers," Matt said.

When I talked with Robert and Matt, the queen had already given her short speech, appeared on the White House balcony with President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, and Prince Philip, and disappeared into the White House.

It did not appear the boys would be able to give their flowers to her majesty, so I asked what they would do with them.

"We'll give them to someone, Condoleeza Rice or somebody," Matt said.

-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times