Britons' Interest in Michelle Obama Grows After Meeting With the Queen

[babylonsister]

Britons' Interest in Michelle Obama Grows After Meeting With the Queen


Michelle Obama, wife of U.S. President Barack Obama, left, walks with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at the reception at Buckingham Palace in London Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

By Mary Jordan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, April 2, 2009; 1:15 PM


LONDON, April 2 -- Michelle Obama, dubbed "Mighty Michelle" and the "new Jacqueline Kennedy" by British media, has dared to do what few have even considered: She put her arm around the queen.

In photos blasted on front pages and television screen, Queen Elizabeth II and Obama are shown in an embrace at a reception Wednesday.

"Protocol seems to be dispensed with when the Obamas come to town," said the Times of London, which noted that the queen seemed particularly comfortable with the first lady and "put her hand on the back of Mrs. Obama, who did the same for a few moments."

When Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating put his arm around the queen in 1992, he was chastised as "Lizard of Oz."

"In this democratic age, the queen will go along with anything," said Kenneth Rose, a well-known royal biographer. "But like most members of the royal family, she doesn't like to be touched. It doesn't come naturally to press the flesh."

Rose recalled that during Richard Nixon's term in office, Nixon touched Princess Anne and she, rather alarmed at being touched, "shrugged off the presidential arm."

That response, said Rose, was "noted and considered rather rude."

The queen, however, adapts very easily "to this modern thing" of embracing, he said. " If you don't do it, you are considered cold, standoffish and essentially English."

A spokesman from Buckingham Palace, who by tradition is not named, played down any notion that protocol had been breached when Obama's arm rested across the queen's back.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/02/AR2009040201758.html

[skeewee08]

1. So now we can put it to rest!

[high density]

2. I'm so glad that the media is paying people to report on this important subject

The protocol around the Queen is very important in our day to day lives. This is such a core issue for the country right now.

[redqueen]

3. After the big deal the M$M tried to make of the 'gaffe', it's welcome IMO.

I'm fine with it.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

14. They'll make a big deal about anything. See perpetual dipshit Ed Henry's Twitter:

"the story of the president giving the queen an Ipod gets better and better. Among the songs loaded on it, Oklahoma"

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. I guess this puts an end to my belief that these people have someone else wipe their ass. nt

[babylonsister]

5. What people are you talking about? nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. Royalty, if they don't like to be touched then whey wouldn't want someone to ....never mind. nt

[indimuse]

6. I'm happy to see this..

thx for the post!.. :)

[JuniperLea]

7. This is great! Thanks for posting!

It's wonderful to see the Obamas so well received, and to see Michelle and Queen Elizabeth CLEARLY getting on so well warms the cockles of my heart. That the Queen also has her arm around Michelle is wonderful. And I'm with the Buckingham Palace spokesman, no need to get into the petty matter of whose arm went 'round first. It really doesn't matter. The Queen did it... no protocol was breached. The Queen would never do that, or allow it to happen.

It also smacks down the lies... awesome!

[Karenina]

13. The queen has prior experience

of being hugged by a black woman. Anyone else remember that "breach of protocol?" The old girl was a trooper about it and by now probably feels quite comfortable. :rofl:

[Prophet 451]

8. We like Michelle

Politician's wives here tend to be rarely seen and never heard so it's been quite refreshing to see Michelle Obama front and centre with her husband.

As for protocol, those protocols date back to the days when someone touching the monarch was likely to be about to knife them. I hardly think we need to worry about that these days. Michelle obviously meant to be friendly, HRH took it as such so there's no issue.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Notice how the people complaining about "lack of protocol"

... are the same dipshits who complained about protocol when Barack met the Queen.

[Cha]

10. The Queen of England

seems pleased with the new American First Lady! I know I am:loveya:

[DrToast]

11. Shouldn't the story be about how the Queen put her arm around Michelle?

That DID happen first.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. No! It's that uppity Michelle's fault.

[opihimoimoi]

16. The Queen was smitten by the Obamas?? I think so....