Michelle and the Queen, KIND OF hug.....

[Clio the Leo]

... it's not a full blown bear hug, but royal watchers know, coming from the Queen of England, this is MAJOR!



(screen cap taken from here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7977950.stm )

[rvablue]

1. My prediction is this image will be big news in the papers and tabloids

in England tomorrow.

Supposedly, there are "rules" about touching the Queen.

My guess is this is going to make the British like the First Lady even more.

[asphalt.jungle]

3. seeing as their tabloids make a big deal out of everything

i expect it. they might have a case with the rules if the queen's arm wasn't around mrs. obama's back as well (as far as her arms could reach).

[Baby Snooks]

43. May have been an awkward reaction on HM's part...

Her arm is really not around Michelle Obama - it may have been an awkward reaction on her part and nothing more.

What Michelle Obama did is completely disrespectful. And completely in violation of protocol. This on top of all the violations of protocol by Bush during her last visit here.

As I recall there was a similar incident with Nancy Reagan and a similar awkward reaction.

The British probably expect it at this point. They think we're all a bunch of ill-bred boors. Our presidents seem to indicate we are.

[Number23]

51. Please read this before you get carried away even further

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8312534#8312700

It may put a damper on your "Michelle was disrespectful" angle. But then again, it may not...

[dionysus]

61. wahhhhhh

:rofl:

[Adelante]

73. Well, you got that wrong

"Inside Edition" called up the Palace to ask about this hubbub that Michelle Obama dare touch the Queen - a big royal no-no that has all blogs and cables talking.

However, it's no big deal, the Palace says.

“It’s obvious that it was a mutual sign of affection and appreciated between the Queen and Michelle Obama,” a spokesperson for the Queen told "Inside Edition."

“There is no offense. The reception was an informal occasion. There's no breach of protocol.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0409/The_palace_says_no_breach_of_protocol_regarding_Michelle_Obama.html

[roguevalley]

78. consider this. it will do your spleen good:

"It is reported that the Queen was so taken by Mrs Obama she even said: "Now we've met, will you please keep in touch?"

[Barack_America]

9. Gotta watch the video. The Queen went in for it first. nt

[stillcool]

36. Do you have a link for the video?

[MiniMe]

39. It is in the OP

[stillcool]

40. thanks...I caught on...finally

I don't know what I thought that link was for:blush:

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Possibly, but The Queen touched Michelle first.

[flpoljunkie]

53. Yet MSNBC is saying British tabloids going wild with Michelle touching the queen

And, they are only showing the piece of the video where Michelle gently puts her arm on the queen--not where the queen does likewise.

This is intentional, and it is ugly. Mika B. is delighting in it, of course.

[roguevalley]

77. she loved Michelle and what a nice thing for her, to be hugged by

such a fountain of warmth. Consider this as well: "It is reported that the Queen was so taken by Mrs Obama she even said: "Now we've met, will you please keep in touch?"

[Dangerously Amused]

2. Awwwwwww! :D

[Number23]

48. I know! That picture is precious and adorable

I love it! :) And the fact that it's sure to give even more fits to the Freepers makes it all the sweeter...

[Ilsa]

4. BBC World News: Michelle Obama breaks protocol , but the Queen doesn't seem to mind. nt

[Windy]

5. I heard Christiane Amanpour say that the Brits look at Michelle in the same light as Diana....

I think its GREAT!

[Captain Hilts]

7. I think that's TERRIBLE. Michelle is a whole lot older and more accomplished. nt

[Patchuli]

41. Diana left this world a better place

for her having been here...don't you besmirch the People's Princess. Michelle would be honored to be thought of in the same light as Princess Di.

http://www.famous-women-and-beauty.com/accomplishments-of-princess-diana.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/accomplishments-of-princess-diana.html

http://www-cgi.cnn.com/WORLD/9709/10/diana.angola/index.html

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EPF/is_n4_v97/ai_19849595/

[Lilyeye]

44. I agree with you there. Thanks for the links.

[leftynyc]

56. Michelle is only three years

younger than Diana would have been had she lived. I know this because Diana and I were the same age.

[bdamomma]

65. wow, that is a big compliment to Michelle.

[Cha]

6. That is something..I noticed

Prez Obama with the Queen and he was not doing his usual friendly touch on the back.

[Captain Hilts]

10. That's a GOOD thing. You don't 'steer' the Queen. Especially in her house. nt

[Clio the Leo]

17. Yep and THAT is why he was standing a bit akwardly I think..

.... not a big deal of course but he's normally so ... affectionate for lack of a better word and you CLEARLY dont touch the queen, ya know, without being touched first lol.

[Clio the Leo]

21. But at least he got to do some of his normal arm touches with Camilla....

[Cha]

22. Right! I totally noticed Prez

was on top of his Ps&Qs Queenly Etiquette Manners.

[Clio the Leo]

24. It was SO funny....

... he was TRYING to stay in the shot and yet not get TOO close at the same time.



Think about, this guy does THIS so much, no one even cares.....







Obligatory photo of him kissing Michelle....


Oh the RESTRAINT he showed with the Queen today! Must have been so difficult for him! lol

"MUST NOT GRAB THE SHOULDER!!!!"

[Cha]

26. You're reminding me of that

smack he layed on Second Lady Jill Biden at Dem Convention time! :* :rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

33. THAT's the one I was forgetting!!!!

I knew I was leaving one out.....

[Cha]

37. There it is in all its

shocking glory:bounce::*

[Manifestor_of_Light]

46. Woah!! Jill is gorgeous...

That is some kiss......shocking....wooohoo!

[bdamomma]

66. I wonder what Joe is thinking!!! that is a smack alright.

[Number23]

49. Hey, is Camilla considered a Princess?

Always wondered about that... or is she just a duchess (not that that's anything to sneeze at)??

[leftynyc]

59. Just a Duchess

I was curious so I looked it up. Duchess of Cornwall except in Scotland where she is Duchess of Rothesay.

[Number23]

80. Wow. A DOUBLE Duchess!

I'm impressed! :)

[Nedsdag]

84. Camilla is a princess.

However, out of respect for Diana, she decided not to use the title of Princess of Wales which she inherited when she married Charles.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Liz is THRILLED not to have to make smalltalk with Laura. nt

[Trocadero]

34. or Cindy!

[MorningGlow]

57. Every time I see photos of the Obamas with the royals

I imagine the queen saying, "Oh dear. George Bush. DREADFUL man. However, President and Mrs. Obama, you're just delightful. Shall we have some tea?"
:rofl:

[LostinVA]

12. Michelle broke protocol, but I doubt the Queen thinks it's a big deal

It wasn't tacky, it was friendly, and Michelle had cooed over the Corgis, which are the apple of the Queen's eye.

[Captain Hilts]

64. Liz seemed perfectly okay with it. And, major creds for shmoozing the corgis.

And NOT bringing your own chef and destroying the gardens.

[bdamomma]

67. maybe the Queen would give Michelle a Corgi to take back for the girls.

[LostinVA]

79. She ONLY gives pups to family and friends, so that would be bigger than the hug

I LOVE Pembroke corgis, and would love to have one!

[Captain Hilts]

13. This reminds me of reading how horrified Liz and Marg were

when they met Eleanor Roosevelt. They'd never seen a woman THAT big.

Guess she's gotten used to it!

[Drunken Irishman]

19. How tall do you think Philip is?

He looks 5'5!

[NYC Liberal]

27. He's 6' 2" - maybe he's shrunk too

[Captain Hilts]

30. 5'9" or 10" when younger. nt

[TahitiNut]

71. That's correct. (I met him, many years ago.)

I'm 6'2" and he was about 4" shorter.

(The IMDB bio is wrong.)

[BeyondGeography]

14. Man

You know, I'm so happy for Michelle. The MSM was dying for any itty bitty fuck-up and there's QEII giving her a hug and the British media can't resist the First Couple. Beautiful.

[immoderate]

15. That's a "side hug."

More restrained than a regular hug. I used to do that with my students.

--imm

[jefferson_dem]

16. FauxNews idiots were just snarking about how Barack shook the Queen's hand using TWO hands!

:wow:

...

:sarcasm:

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

18. That Michelle is way too smoozy, I'm officially outraged at her getting that close to

Her Majesty.

[Clio the Leo]

20. And apparently, Brown hugged the President.....

Those darned Obamas, they're just so huggable!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20755.html

They're like joy and love on four legs. :)

[Trocadero]

35. the UK is feeling the love!

[spanone]

23. i don't imagine the queen is 'touched' very often

[Captain Hilts]

31. Remember the woman in Southeast DC who did so when Liz went to her house?

Liz was okay with it because she was in that woman's house.

[renate]

45. oh yes! I do remember!

It was a really nice moment. Although I suspect that the main reason she was okay with it was that it would have been ingracious not to be, and not so much the location. But she definitely didn't seem horrified like some other members of the royal family, like Princess Margaret and Princess Michael, would have been. I like the Queen--she's always done her job (which she didn't ask for--not that I would mind it, myself) with complete dedication.

[Captain Hilts]

55. That's what being gracious is all about. Putting others at ease. I like Liz too.

I love the idea that she's the LAST - since the death of Mitterand - head of state that served in WWII and has been getting intelligence briefings daily since 1952. You can see how the PMs consulting her better have their ps and qs all set.

AND, evidently, she does a killing imitation of Nancy Reagan. I'll never forget when, the day before Chuck and Di got married, he was playing in a polo match and Liz drove herself to the match in a station wagon with a scarf over her head. Nancy Reagan arrived in a motorcade dressed for a fancy ball while Liz was in a generic tweed outfit and sensible shoes. It was, after all, a polo match.

[ShortnFiery]

58. Sorry, although Nancy Reagan was GOP crazy, she was desperately in love with her husband

and for that she will always have my utmost respect, non-tweed outfit and fancy shoes not withstanding. ;) :evilgrin:

[leftynyc]

60. I agree

It must have been awful for her to watch a man she adored sink into Alzheimers and get to a point where he didn't recognize her. I really disliked her when her husband was President but she earned my respect in how she handled his illness and how she held up during his week long wake. She's one tough broad.

[Captain Hilts]

62. Actually, I agree. I felt very sorry for her during his final illness. nt

[Arugula Latte]

70. Maybe Phil gets a little handsy when he nips the cooking sherry.

[ronnykmarshall]

25. 'ol Betty seems to like the Obama's.

[MadMaddie]

28. I see this as Michelle being respectful of her elders

I like the picture.

[Captain Hilts]

32. I agree. Me too. nt

[applegrove]

29. Oh. They are hugging. That is sweet.

[Fire1]

38. I could say she's 'workin it,' but I think Michelle genuinely likes

and respects older people. That is so sweet.

[LynnTheDem]

42. "Now we've met, will you please keep in touch"

Said Queen Elizabeth to First Lady Obama.

Royal command.

;)

[bdamomma]

68. how nice. Michelle is a hit.

[vaberella]

47. Run Michelle Run...that old biddy is a vampire. She sucks the blood of young brits daily. n/t

[shaniqua6392]

50. Michele is such a "hugger" that it must have been hard not to show any emotion.

Those Brits are a bit stiff.

[polichick]

52. Did I just see on msnbc that this is now being called a "faux pas"

...since one is not to touch the queen - or were they referring to something else?

[flpoljunkie]

54. Yes, you did. Mika seems to delight in repeating it.

[LynnTheDem]

69. Too bad the Royal Palace has said NO IT IS NOT a faux pas.

Imagine the NERVE of the Palace disagreeing about palace protocol with American "news" pundits!

Unbelieveable!!1!


:eyes:

[bdamomma]

63. how nice Michelle is just that sort of a person who is just warm.

[sledgehammer]

72. Royalty needs to enter the 21st century

I understand and strongly respect culture, and always want everyone to respect local customs and traditions. But the "not touching" stuff is remnant of centuries-old tradition that established royalty as divinely-guided and superior, and that no one was good enough to touch royalty.

And if the Queen is fine with touching others, she should expect the same back. Especially from her peers (i.e. world leaders/spouses), and those who are not her "subjects"!

In any case, Michelle Obama is much more accomplished than the Queen. She's seen ordinary life, she worked hard, made it to the top universities, has held several professional posts, has raised two kids without much help, etc. She doesn't live in a bubble of wealth, inheritance, pomp, and superiority.

The Queen and the rest of the royalty would do well to learn a bit from the one royal who was actually a real person...there's a reason why she was called the people's princess:

[ClarkUSA]

74. MSNBC's Royal Press contact said he has never known of an instance where the Queen has hugged back.

[Sultana]

75. .

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[ClarkUSA]

76. Yup.

:fistbump:

[and-justice-for-all]

81. The Queen seems to actually like this First Lady....But

The big uproar from the Brits is that "no one touches the Queen, no one!" I think it is a good signal from the Queen, she is after all, still a person.

[mrbscott19]

82. Did nobody else notice

in the video that the Queen seems rather annoyed that Michelle put her arm around her? She flails her arm, distances herself from Michelle, and stares right at her. It's nice to see the Queen embrace Michelle, I just don't think the return gesture was expected or welcome. The Omama's must be on her good side though or else I think the press would be telling an entirely different story.

That said I think the idea of nobody touching the queen is stupid.

[FrenchieCat]

83. No, I didn't notice....because I tend not to try to read more into

a tape without sound or context to help me fabricate to a convenient conclusion. So, no I didn't see the Queen distance herself from Michelle; I saw the queen turn to Michelle and continue their conversation. And yes, the whole notion of the untouchable is not only stupid, but quite weird.

I'm almost tempted to believe that the Queen wanted to make her own sort of history, by building an historical story of sorts, considering that the Obamas are just as historical, if not more so, than she is; for the fact that they are the first ever African-American couple as head of state of the United States. She probably wanted some of Michelle's historical touch....for the history books that will be written about this "first" of Presidents for years to come. The Queen is actually quite clever on this. She has insured herself a place in American History as well as in her own country. In fact, the Queen was smooth on this. :)