PHOTOS The Queen Meets Royalty :-)

[Jackeens]

**** According to the BBC just now the President gave the Queen an.....iPod. Is that, um, an April Fool's?? I just can't see Liz jogging with her Shuffle, or whatever **** Ah, update: it contains footage of her 2007 visit to the U.S.


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President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are greeted by Head of the Household David Walker as they arrive at Buckingham Palace to meet with Queen Elizabeth

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US President Barack Obama arrives for a meeting with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in central London

....and: Reggie made it to the Palace!!!!

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[azmouse]

1. I had no idea the Queen was that tiny.

I kinda like her.

[knowbody0]

10. a wee little queen

Michelle must feel like Alice in Wonderland today

[Thrill]

17. Remember her trying to speak at Bush's podium?

[xxqqqzme]

63. good lord, my mother looks like the Queen!!!!

I am amazed - same hairdo even.

[Demoiselle]

85. EVERYBODY'S mother looks like the Queen!!

That's why she inspires such loyalty. Gosh, I do think that we are beautifully represented by our First Couple.
Elegant, and then some!

[PA Democrat]

2. LOVE your photo threads, Jackeens!

Thank you for taking the time to post them.

[Jackeens]

8. Thanks so much PA Democrat, thrilled you enjoy them!

[polichick]

3. The queen looks tickled pink! :)

[hlthe2b]

4. the Obamas meet the "wee people"

Sorry, but it is really striking how tall our elegant first couple is from these shots. They make the British Royal couple look absolutely miniature. ;)

[Froward69]

28. well fed Americans

from the "worlds bread basket"

[Clio the Leo]

5. and you KNOW you've been saving up that thread title ALL day!

lol, thank you!

[Jackeens]

6. Well............

.............yes!!!

[LaurenG]

7. I never realized the Queen was as petite as she is

and I think she's cute in pink, that and she's always carrying her purse, which is cute too.

Of course the President and First Lady are lovely as usual.

[Clio the Leo]

9. lol, the President looks scared or nervous or something...

.... can he get any farther away while still standing next to her! lol

[sledgehammer]

87. It's actually the poor positioning of the chair...

If he tries to stand next to her, he won't really be facing the camera. Poor setup for such a big moment.

And, IMO, quite an ugly looking room. The palace and most things royal are generally impressive, but this room is really quite average. Looks like a lobby of some random old Manhattan building.

[AFSCME girl]

11. Awesome!

Thank you, Jackeens!! :hi:

[Sannum]

12. The Queen HATED the Bushes!

I am sure she is glad that we are under new management!

Prince Philip looks like he is in very poor health. There are so many rumors. I will feel awful when he dies - despite his gaffes, she does seem to love the old codger.

The Obamas look wonderful! So Proud!

[BonnieJW]

46. He has cheated on his wife for many years.

She is loyal to him even so. He's a boob.

[Sannum]

65. She is loyal.

In the 60's there were rumors of infedelity on her part as well. Honestly I hope she did have a little fun on the side!

[Baby Snooks]

79. But she is the Queen...

The media in England is very careful what they say or print but more than likely when he began to stray is when they truly had separate bedrooms. She was and is of a different era.

He might have met someone and might have asked for a divorce. She of course would have said no. She is the Queen. I doubt he ever asked.

[Barack_America]

Phillip looks quite smitten with Michelle.

Not that anyone could blame him, of course.

[monmouth]

35. I was just going to post that. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. The

Queen has definitely lost height since the last pics I saw of her. Ole Phil is enthralled with the both of them. He rarely smiles.

[Beacool]

60. I wouldn't make much of it.

He prefers blondes and is a bully and racist to boot.

The Queen is a much better person than her husband.

x(

[Ilsa]

13. Is Barack laughing because Prince Phillip cut one (again)?

[azmouse]

24. I think Prince Harry is laughing at the hat Princess Anne is wearing!

I know I would be! :)

[Cass]

14. Great pics - I get the biggest kick out of the Queen and her handbag!

She always has a handbag with her. Too funny!

Michelle looks so pretty! I am loving your photo threads about this trip - thanks so much for the pics today!

[Ilsa]

19. Well, you know, she's at the office all day, and she has to be ready for

a quick getaway. It probably has a hanky and a gold brick in it.

[alsame]

20. It's so funny that she's carrying it inside her own house! n/t

[Connie_Corleone]

23. Like Sophia on the Golden Girls.

[alsame]

31. I forgot

all about that :rofl:

[Inuca]

26. My first thought too.

Not nice to make fun of nice old royalty, but it's TOO funny. And so are her outfits.

[poverlay]

59. I've always hoped she has a gun, a book, and a pop-tart in there. I'd carry it everywhere too! n/t

[LuckyLib]

68. Or a joint, a pint of Cuddy, and a People magazine. For when she wants to get down to serious

reading.

[babylonsister]

15. What's with the purse, Queenie? And as always, thanks, Jackeens! nt

[Hamlette]

30. that's what I want to know?

(sorry missed your post...and asked the same question down threat)

I noticed this in the movie The Queen. Hell sakes, she's in her own house.

[Baby Snooks]

77. She is and she isn't...

The Obamas are being received in a "public" reception room so she is "in public" and so she is dressed appropriately. Including the purse.

I read an article years ago about the royals and how they live and as I recall Buckingham Palace is divided into three areas - public rooms, state rooms which include apartments for staff and guests including heads of state, and the royal apartments. When she leaves the royal apartments and receives someone in a public or state room she is "in public" in a way. The public rooms and some of the state rooms are on the tour so to speak. The royal apartments are not. If I recall correctly only the Reagans were invited into the royal apartments - for breakfast. Everyone else is relegated to the state rooms. Even for breakfast with the Queen although I don't know that everyone is invited to breakfast with the Queen. Buckingham Palace is really not her "home" and neither is Windsor Palace. Only Balmoral Castle and Sandringham are. I don't know that any US president has ever been invited to either.

My question is whether the Obamas are actually staying at Buckingham Palace. The Queen may have relegated future US presidents to hotels after George W Bush and his entourage nearly destroyed the royal gardens with their helicopters and security patrols which were ridiculous. Apart from a man who apparently left a tour and had a nice little chat later with the queen in her bedroom, Buckingham Palace is probably the most secure residence in the world. True story by the way. Supposedly the Queen was amused by it and even amused by the jokes about how long it had been since she woke up to find a strange man in her bedrooom. A jab at Prince Phillip. Although they did tighten up security on the tours.

[nichomachus]

69. Condoms and lube -- that Phillip is a rascal

[underpants]

16. Wow

just Wow

[redqueen]

18. An iPod?

Oh boy... if true, the British tabloids will have a field day with that... which apparently (again, if true) Obama is okay with.

[Ilsa]

22. Seems a bit pedestrian for a gift for royalty, doesn't it? Giving electronics

is cool, but, uh, cool.

[redqueen]

27. It is very pedestrian.

It's a very minor / non-issue... but interesting to me because of the oddity.

[Ilsa]

37. Check out the other response to my post. The ipod has some

womderful footage loaded into it for her.

[DevonRex]

34. The update is that it contains footage of her 2007 trip to the US. So it's

personal, too. And if she's like my mother, she'll have fun getting people to show her how to use it. And then she'll forget. And then she'll get people to show her how to use it again. :)

[Ilsa]

36. Oh, that is wonderful. That makes all the difference in the world. Very thoughtful. nt

[redqueen]

74. Aw, that's neat.

:)

[Princess Turandot]

49. Several months ago, she took the short trip to Google's London Office..

which is a few blocks from the Palace in order to get a demo of Google Earth. So she may not be quite as behind the times as the handbags suggest! :)

[Politicalboi]

66. They just announced it on

MSNBC it's true.

[nichomachus]

70. Apparently, she's quite the whiz at Wii -- so an iPod doesn't seem weird

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/01/queen-elizabeth.html


According to British paper The People, Queen Elizabeth II is the latest member of the Wii fanclub.

The report says that the system was a Christmas gift from Kate Middleton to her boyfriend Prince William, but after watching her grandson play, the monarch "begged to join in."

"She played a simple ten-pin bowling game and by all accounts was a natural," the paper states, presumably referring to (pack-in title) Wii Bowling.

While it's not shocking that the Wii's ability to captivate every member of the family would extend to the Royals, picturing Queen Elizabeth, the pinnacle of regal grace, flailing about with a Wiimote or cussing out William for getting a strike should almost definitely be the focus of Nintendo's next ad campaign.

[redqueen]

76. It gets even better...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8312209

[SeaLyons]

21. itty bitty pretty queen....

pictures are awesome....thank you!!!!

[Ilsa]

25. She needs a hat. The Queen, that is. And thanks for the pix! nt

[Hamlette]

39. and Michelle needs to hike up her slip on the left side n/t

[xxqqqzme]

64. I noticed that as well.

[Hamlette]

29. What is with that tiny purse? She always carries one. In her own home?

I noticed it in the movie The Queen (excellent btw) and thought how odd it was. She got some red phone or seal in there or something?

I don't know about you, but I don't carry a little purse around my house. Am I the odd one?

[azmouse]

32. I wonder if it has to do with the size of the palace?

Maybe she keeps tissues or meds or some such things in there so they're handy. Of course, you'd think that she has enough servants to fetch anything she'd need... does make one wonder, doesn't it?

[Barack_America]

40. Always. I once read an article about her purses and what she carries in them.

I can't find that article, but here's another on the topic.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/790/what-does-queen-elizabeth-carry-in-that-purse

I also recall that she carries a hook to hang the purse off a table, rather than placing it on the floor when seated.

[azmouse]

33. *** answers to the handbag question***

'What's In The Queen's Handbag: And Other Royal Secrets' reveals that though the 81-year-old monarch doesn't carry cash, keys or a passport - since she doesn't own one - her bag is far from empty. Inside are a collection of good luck charms given to her by her children, including miniature dogs, horses and saddles, plus family snaps. The most treasured of which is a photo of Prince Andrew on his safe return from the Falklands in 1982.

Also inside the tote is a make-up case, given to her by Prince Philip as a wedding gift 60 years ago. It also houses an s-shaped metal meat hook which she places on the edge of the dinner table, from which to suspends her handbag, keeping it off the floor.

And more info:

It's not only what's inside the monarch's bags that is significant, but the bag itself, for she uses it to communicate with her staff in a very subtle manner. Before dining with the Queen, a point is made to inform guests that dinner will end in about five minutes after she places her bag on the table top. On walkabouts, she holds the bag to one side to show she intends to move on, at which point a lady-in-waiting joins the conversation, allowing her to slip away without causing offence. When at a banquet, if the Queen's bag is placed on the floor, then it's a sign that she's not finding the conversation interesting, and wants nothing more than to escape. However, if the royal bag is dangling happily from the crook of her left arm, she is happy and relaxed.

The Queen carries a comb, a handkerchief, a small gold compact, and a tube of lipstick in her handbag. The Queen does carry money on Sundays--a folded note of unknown denomination which she discreetly places in the collection plate. One thing that can always be found in the Queen's handbags is an S-shaped metal meat hook that she places on the dinner table's edge to suspend her bag from so that it doesn't touch the floor.

[Barack_America]

41. Ah yes, that's the article I read. Do you have the link? nt

[azmouse]

43. Yep

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080203192754AAAodcl

and

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2007/10/10/queen-handbag/

[janx]

42. That's a trip!

She uses it as a communication device!

[azmouse]

45. Yeah I liked that too.

What a great way to let her staff know what she wants w/o her guests knowing.

[nichomachus]

72. I love it -- she carries a hook

to hold the handbag on the table. If she didn't have the handbag, she wouldn't need the damn hook.

[mecherosegarden]

38. Awww, Thanks! N/T

[Orsino]

44. "A president and first lady meet mere royalty."

Our president and his wife got where they are because of merit. Liz and Phil were merely born to their status.

[jillan]

47. Michelle looks like a princess.

[Dinger]

48. Is The Queen That Short, Or Are President And Mrs. Obama That Tall?

I don't know why, but those pics make me get all misty. I'm a wuss. :(

[Jackeens]

50. Both, I think!

[Cha]

51. Reggie Love! Thanks,

Jackeens~ Michelle had her hair done for the Queen~ And, President Obama has to remember not to touch the Queen like he's always giving friendly gestures, right?:)

[firedupdem]

52. Love the additional pics! Glad I came back to check them out! n/t

[Dinger]

53. Woo-Hoo! I Got To Send This To The Greatest Page!

:)

[jesus_of_suburbia]

54. Jackeens, thank you for posting these photo threads! You really do a great job!

[Arugula Latte]

55. Did ol' Phil make it through the meeting without blurting something terribly inappropriate?

*crosses fingers*

[vaberella]

57. I hope he stays true to his morals. Something alone the lines of...Are you sure you're half Black?!

n/t

[Arugula Latte]

80. Oh, look! He didn't let us down!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8311843

[vaberella]

56. I see that saucy minx is still drinking the blood of young British girls to stay alive.

Is that Prince Phillip next to her? I hope they keep his lips sealed.

[laureloak]

58. Why is the Queen holding onto a purse? n/t

[dalaigh lllama]

61. I wonder if one of Michelle's eyes is bothering her

I noticed starting with yesterday's pix of them getting on the plane that in a lot of the photos she has her right eye half shut. Could be just the way she crinkles her eyes when she smiles, but I've never noticed it before. Wonder if she's got some pesky eye infection?

[Beacool]

62. Very nice pics.

The Obamas look great and the Queen looks cute with her eternal purse hanging from her arm. Phillip, I rather not comment.....

:-)

[wisteria]

67. Charming pictures.

Everyone looks pleased to meet each other.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip do look small, but I believe their ages have played a part in this matter. As you age you lose height.

[AyanEva]

71. *flails*

I love these photos! :D It looks like the Queen and Prince Phillip are genuinely pleased to meet the Obamas. I'm not used to heads of state being genuinely pleased to see our country's leader. Usually it's sort of a grimace as they attempt to fake a smile while secretly wishing they could shove the President out of the window.

It's a very nice change. :)

[brianna69]

73. The Obamas also gave the Queen another gift

along with the IPod.They also gave her a rare song book signed by Richard Rodgers - reported by Politico.

[Drunken Irishman]

75. Aww, The Queen looks too cute.

[tblue37]

78. The Obamas are so tall and the queen is so tiny that it

looks as though they could pick her up and use her as a salt shaker!

[MiniMe]

81. The Obamas are such touchy people it must have been hard to observe protocol

I'm sure that Michelle wanted to give the queen a big hug. Barack too.

[Hope And Change]

82. K & R!Thanks for posting!

[MajPayne2]

83. Check out the comments on this frickin rag...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20763.html

:mad:

[Are_grits_groceries]

84. She may be the wee Queen.

However, she has a hell of a disapproving look. She has given it to both Cheney and Bush at times. They deserved it.
Her mother, the Queen Mum, was a real hoot. She was a wee one too.

[vinylsolution]

86. Infamous racist, Phil the Greek....

... looks rather shifty on being confronted with two genuinely classy visitors.

I have to wonder how he greeted them?

"Dammit Liz, bloody servants' quarters are in the basement..."