From the S&S archives:
Reagans arrive in United Kingdom

WINDSOR, England (S&S) — President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan received a warm welcome from Queen Elizabeth II on their arrival at 800-year-old Windsor Castle early Monday evening.

The Reagans and Prince Philip arrived here aboard the president's helicopter, Marine One, after a 10-minute flight from Heathrow Airport, where Reagan was met by Prince Philip, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and other welcomers.

After the landing at Windsor, the Reagans proceeded to where the queen, with Prince Charles by her side, was waiting to meet them.

The Reagans were introduced by the queen to members of her staff.

The president, escorted by the queen, and Mrs. Reagan, escorted by Philip, proceeded into the Windsor Castle quadrangle through the Royal Garden.

Reagan became the sixth American president to make an official visit to London. But he is the first to be honored by a stay at Windsor and the first as the guest of the monarch since King George V entertained Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

Windsor Castle, an official residence of the sovereign for the past eight centuries, is the largest inhabited castle in the world. It covers about 24 acres and stands on a hill overlooking the River Thames, about 40 miles west of London.

It is now one of Britain's largest tourist draws. The original castle, largely replaced and extended by later rulers, was built by William the Conqueror, probably about 1070.

The castle grounds are normally open to the public just as they were Monday, and the state apartments, where the royal and presidential parties are staying, are open to the public when they're not occupied.

Two hours before the president arrived, the tourists and the 30,000 inhabitants of this tourist-oriented town were going about life with no sign of excitement about the impending presidential arrival.

The public will see little of the president during his visit, which lasts until Wednesday around lunchtime, when he will fly to Bonn.

Security during the visit is said to be tighter than that which surrounded Pope John Paul lI during his recent tour of Britain.

The president is accompanied by two armored cars, and there are six helicopters to transport the presidential party.

The group is a large one. Besides Air Force One — a Boeing 707 — two other aircraft flew into London's Heathrow Airport Monday. The three carried 200 senior American officials, 220 members of the White House press corps and 150 bodyguards, who are being supplemented by armed British police.

Reports in the British press have said that there have been flaps between the Secret Service and the British Special Branch over security arrangements, with the Americans saying that the British do not take security seriously enough and the British muttering about the Yanks' overkill.

Before Reagan's arrival at Windsor, news correspondents were searched, and their equipment was checked by British police.

At Heathrow, a light rain greeted Air Force One as it landed at 6:24 p.m. Monday night.

American Ambassador and Mrs. John Louis were among those welcoming the presidential couple during their seven-minute stop at Heathrow.

With a wave and a thumbs-up sign to the 100-member group of correspondents, the Reagans changed from Air Force One to Marine One for the flight.

A camouflaged NH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopter escorted Marine One to Windsor. Simultaneously, a backup helicopter and a security escort took off from Heathrow and took an alternate route to Windsor.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Alexander Haig, with the presidential party, commented on the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. He said, "It's too early to say if it is a war."

Haig said the United States continues to try to halt the fighting. The main U.S. leverage is through contacts with the Israeli government.

Haig said Reagan's emissary, Philip Habib, had met with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Jerusalem.

According to U.S. estimates; Haig said, 6,000 Palestinians are ranged against some 20,000 Israelis. He said there are unconfirmed reports that the Israelis clashed with some Syrian groups on the eastern front.

Haig said that the continued U.S. intention is to create a cease-fire and to have an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, leading to a situation in which the central Lebanese government would be strengthened.

Asked if the situation has developed into the beginnings of a Middle East war, Haig said, "It is too early to say if it is war."

He said the United States, as the strongest supporter of Israel, recognizes that it has a special responsibility. "With the Israeli use of force, the United States is inevitably expected to exercise its influence. That is an obligation that we have borne," he said.

He said he has received a "strong" communication from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, objecting to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon but also "recommitting itself to the peace treaty with Israel and the Camp David process."