Queen Elizabeth II is escorted by Gene R. Nichol, president of the College of William and Mary, as she visits students and alumni Friday in the Wren Building in Williamsburg, Va.

Williamsburg, Va. ? The 53 students, professors and alumni chosen for a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Friday were warned she might breeze past them without a word.

Fortunately for them, Her Majesty was in a chatty mood.

She entered the Great Hall of the Wren Building at the College of William and Mary and worked her way down the reception line like a presidential candidate rather than a monarch.

The queen started her day with visits to the Jamestown Settlement and the archaeological dig at Historic Jamestowne.

At the museum near the James Fort, she was particularly taken with a crumbling, long-handled iron spatula used to treat constipation, described in the exhibit as a “disease that killeth many.”

The queen summoned Dr. David Swain, a Royal Navy physician who accompanies her on trips, and joked, “You should have something like that.”

In her first visit to Williamsburg and Jamestown since 1957, Queen Elizabeth II seemed to enjoy flirting with her myriad of American admirers. The 81-year-old set fashion mavens aflutter by changing from a teal and sage outfit to a mauve and blue ensemble at midday. And she paused to visit with scores of gaga fans as she toured Historic Jamestowne and the College of William and Mary.

The most intimate moments occurred at the college’s Great Hall, a dark-paneled room with Oriental carpets and a bust of Thomas Jefferson.

The queen extended a white-gloved hand to a goose-bumpy Valerie Hopkins, vice president of the Student Assembly at William and Mary, and quipped, “Oh, so you get to do extra work.”

The students stared in open-mouthed awe at the regal lady with her cotton-candy hat, but a few minutes before her arrival they had been in animated debate over what to say to her.

“I’ll just say, ‘I like your shoes,'” decided Kevin Dua, a sophomore.

“The question I would ask is what happens at the end of Harry Potter because I figure if anyone knows, she does,” said Matt Taylor, another student.

Most people could only hope to catch a glimpse of the queen from afar.

Outside the Wren Building, thousands lined up on the lawn to watch her make a short walk before receiving an honorary degree as part of the Class of 2007. Those lucky enough to wrangle special white passes were allowed up close; the rest had to watch on large-screen monitors from farther back on the lawn.

At 2:33 p.m., a small cheer went up and a few minutes later, a few lucky spectators could see a glimpse of mauve and neon blue as she walked around the rear of the building. At 2:43, there were cheers and polite, royal applause.

Gene R. Nichol, the president of William and Mary, announced her arrival at 2:45. “Your majesty,” he said, “I think it’s fair to say that your ancient college is delighted and proud to welcome you back.”

During a brief lull, a call rose out of the crowd. “Queen, I love you,” a young man shouted.

At 3:15 p.m. Queen Elizabeth II walked out onto the balcony of the Wren Building and lavished a few more of her hand waves onto the crowd.

Then she was gone, and spectators quickly disbursed.