By Jordan Heller and Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — As part of her first trip to New York City in nearly 35 years, Queen Elizabeth II gave a rare speech to the United Nations Tuesday afternoon before heading to lower Manhattan to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11.
After a brief address to the U.N. General Assembly — her first since 1957 — the queen travelled by motorcade to Ground Zero, where she was met by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson.
The 84-year-old British monarch put a wreath of peonies, roses, lilies and other flowers on a wooden riser at the World Trade Center site, according to the AP, and greeted families of 9/11 victims.
The area surrounding Ground Zero was packed with residents and tourists hoping to get a glimpse of royalty.
"You don't get to see someone royal everyday, so this is pretty cool," said Allison Courtney, 22, of Texas, who was waiting to see the queen drive past at Church and Liberty streets.
"I've always admired her; I'm no monarchist, but she's been very dedicated and serious about a job she didn't choose," said Neil Eddinger, 61, of Washington Square, before adding that as a New Yorker he thinks it's important the queen pay her respects at Ground Zero.
"It wasn't just about lower Manhattan," said Erica Green, 37, of Florida, referring to the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. "It was about the United States and the world. It's great that she came to see it."
Others were not so happy about the monarch's visit, citing the impact on their commutes.
"The traffic held up my bus, I'm pissed," said Ed Berkowitz, 55, who was trying to get home to Rockland County.
Kyle Westaway, a Manhattan attorney, posted on Twitter: "Had to divert my commute home due to Queen Elizabeth's visit. Who does she think she is ... the Queen of England?"
The queen also visited the nearby British Garden in Hanover Square, a memorial to British citizens who died in the World Trade Center attacks. She met with victims’ relatives for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to formally open the garden.
At the U.N. earlier in the afternoon, the queen rededicated the English Commonwealth's commitment to the aims and values of the U.N. and stressed that its continued success would depend on world unity.
"The waging of peace is the hardest form of leadership of all," said the queen.
"I know of no single formula for success, but over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal, and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together."
In a colorful introduction, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that the queen's reign has spanned decades, "from the Beatles to Beckham," and from "television to Twitter."
The complete text of Queen Elizabeth's speech can be found here.
